Using Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentusl.: Malvacae) in the Treatment of Diabetic Rats in Egypt

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease caused by inherited or acquired deficiency in insulin secretion and by decreased responsiveness of the organs to the secreted insulin. Recently, some medicinal plants have been reported to be useful in diabetes treatment as Okra (Abelmoschus esculentusL.). Many drugs decrease the hyperglycemic effects like Cidophage. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible antihyperglycemic property of Okra water extract and the Cidophage drug (1000 mg metformin) and their antioxidant mechanisms in Alloxan induced diabetic rats.

This study was performed on twenty males and twenty females' albino rats from the genus Rattus norvigious with an average body weight of 150-350g. Animals were divided into eight groups (five/cage), control untreated group, diabetic group, diabetic group treated with plant extract that was given orally and diabetic group treated with the stock solution of Cidophage drug that was given orally.

Results showed in diabetic groups marked decline in levels of body weight, organs weight, total proteins and albumin. These are accompanied with marked elevation in levels of fasting blood glucose, AST, ALT and ALP. These had risk factors in diabetic rats as compared to the corresponding controls. While the daily administration of diabetic rats treated with the Okra showed more significant amelioration in most of these parameters than that of treated with the Cidophage drug.

Histopathologically; normal samples showed apparent intact morphological features of hepatic tissue (liver), kidney, pancreas, testes and ovary.Diabetic samples showed moderate degeneration, vacuolar changes and many pyknotic changes. Diabetic/Okra and Diabetic/ Cidophage samples showed moderate protective efficacy with persistence of milder records of degenerative changes in tissues. Diabetic/ Okra samples also, more significant amelioration in tissues than that of Diabetic/Cidophage samples. 

It could be concluded that Okra treatment exerts a therapeutic protective nature in diabetes by decreasing oxidative stress and pancreatic β-cells’ damage which may be attributed to its antioxidative potential and antidiabetic property more than the Cidophage drug.