Structural and functional changes of adrenal cortex and pancreas in mature male rats due to (Curcuma Longa)

Thirty mature male rats were randomly divided into three equal groups and treated for 6 weeks as follows: Rats in the first group were received 3 ml ordinary tap water and served as control group (group C), animals of the second and third groups were received 150, 300 mgkg B.W. of Curcuma Longa respectively. Serum concentration of cortisol and glucose as an index of adrenal cortex function and pancreas function. Sections from adrenal cortex and pancreas were assessed for histological studies. The results revealed that treatment with two doses caused significant (P 0.05) increase in serum cortisol and glucose concentration. Furthermore, water suspension of Curcuma Longa caused significant (p 0.05) decrease in serum glucose concentration in the treated groups as compared with control group at the same two treated periods, besides, significant increase was observed at day 42. Histological studies of adrenal cortex of treated rats (T1 and T2 groups) indicated a case of hyperplasia of zona fasciculata demonstrated by increasing which type of cells clear vacculation of cytoplasm. On other hand, histological hyperplasia of secretary cells with mild filtration of lymphocytes and neutrophils. It was concluded that treatment of male rats with two doses of Curcuma Longa suspension had positive significant functional and structural effects on adrenal cortex and pancreas.