Pancreatic Beta-Cell Protective Effect of Chrysophyllum Albidum Leave Extract in Streptozotocin- Induced Diabetic Rats

Introduction: Chrysophyllum albidum (C. albidum) is a plant that is reported to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities. Aim: This work was to show that Chrysophyllum albidum extracts protect pancreatic beta-cells from streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Sprague-Dawley rats. Method: A total of thirty Sprague Dawley rats were used. Group I served as the control with 5 rats while diabetes was induced by injecting a single dose of STZ (50 mg/kg BW) into 25 rats of 5 rats per group. After 3 days of induction of diabetes, the diabetic animals were treated for 28 days with ethanoic extract of C. albidum leave as groups IV, V and VI (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) respectively, group III was given glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) orally. The blood glucose levels were monitored at regular intervals during the experiment. At the end of the study, the rats were sacrificed and the blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis; and the histology of the pancreatic tissue was conducted. Results: C. albidum improved, in a dose-dependent manner, the survival and function of rat pancreatic beta-cells from STZ-induced diabetic mediated loss of cell viability and impairment of insulin secretion. Additionally, C. albidum demonstrated potential in reducing TG, LDL-C, TC, and increasing HDL-C. The extract increased the activities of CAT, SOD, and GSH. Finally, C. albidum improved the pancreatic cell injury better than glibenclamide, a medication that is routinely prescribed to treat diabetes. The histological analysis of the pancreas revealed an increase in the number, size, and regeneration of β-cell of islets of Langerhans. Conclusion: These findings suggested that C. albidum induces insulin secretion that protects beta-cells from oxidative stress-related diabetes.