EFFECT OF ALCOHOLIC ANASTATICA HIEROCHUNTICA EXTRACT ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

The methanolic extract of Anastatica hierochuntica was investigated for its antidiabetic effect in male Albino rats. Blood glucose levels, lipids profile were significantly reduced in all treated group of alloxan diabetic rats in comparison to their pre-treatment values, in addition to, intake of orally dose of 100 mg/kg b.w of methanolic extract daily for four consecutive weeks to diabetic rats significantly decreased the activity levels of all those biomarker liver damage enzymes (S.GOT, S. GPT and S.ALP), and restored it to normal values. Levels of SOD activity were significantly decreased in diabetic rats compared with the healthy group, but these levels increased significantly to a value similar to the healthy rat when treated with a daily single dose of Anastatica hierochuntica extract ( 100mg/kg b.w) for four weeks. The same pattern was seen with another antioxidant enzyme GPx, its levels significantly decreased in diabetic and increased when the animals fed on the extract daily for four weeks. Histopathological observations in both pancreas and liver rat s tissues revealed that methanolic Anastatica hierochuntica extract was non-toxic and regenerated the toxic effects of alloxan. In conclusion the decreased blood glucose accompanied with decreased lipid profile and changes in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and GPx, in addition to biomarker liver damage enzymes showed the antidiabetic, hypolipidmic and a potent antioxidant agent