AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF THE OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST ALLOXAN-INDUCED BIOCHEMICAL ALTERATIONS IN MALE WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Objective: The current study aims to evaluate the significance of supplementation of olive leaves extract (OLE) of Olea europaea plant in reducing the biochemical abnormalities accompanied to alloxan-induced diabetes in male Wistar rats. Methods: Thirty male albino rats were divided equally into three groups including control, diabetic and diabetic under OLE treatment. A single dose of alloxan (120 mg/kg of body weight) was used to induce diabetes in rats. Serum biochemical parameters, such as insulin, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) , total proteins, albumin, globulin, renal markers (creatinine, urea, uric acid), activities of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were measured in all groups. Also, values of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and ratios of albumin:globulin (A:G), TC/HDL (risk factor-1) , LDL/HDL (risk factor-2) were calculated for each group. Results: Diabetic rats showed reduction in body weight and marked decline in the values of serum insulin, protein profile and HDL accompanied with marked elevation in values of glucose, HOMA_IR, triglycerides, TC, LDL, VLDL, TC/HDL, LDL/HDL, renal markers and activities of the estimated enzymes. Supplementation of diabetic rats with OLE, three times daily for 30 days, significantly abolished the disturbances occurred in the serum biochemical parameters of diabetic rats. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that OLE possesses a hypoglycemic effect and may be of advantage in ameliorating metabolic abnormalities induced by diabetes.