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. 2015 Jul;8(7):532-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2015.06.013. Epub 2015 Jul 9.

Evaluation of protective effect of cactus pear seed oil (Opuntia ficus-indica L. MILL.) against alloxan-induced diabetes in mice

Ali Berraaouan  1 , Ziyyat Abderrahim  1 , Mekhfi Hassane  1 , Legssyer Abdelkhaleq  1 , Aziz Mohammed  1 , Bnouham Mohamed  2
Affiliations

Evaluation of protective effect of cactus pear seed oil (Opuntia ficus-indica L. MILL.) against alloxan-induced diabetes in mice

Ali Berraaouan et al. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2015 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antioxidant power of cactus pear seed oil [Opuntia ficus-indica L. MILL. (CPSO)] and its protective effect against chemically induced diabetes mellitus in mice.

Methods: The in vitro antioxidant effect of CPSO was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. The preventive effect was conducted on Swiss albino mice treated with CPSO (2 mL/kg, per os), before and after a single intraperitoneal alloxan administration (100 mg/kg). Survival rate, body weight and fasting blood glucose were measured and histopathological analysis of pancreas was performed to evaluate alloxan-induced tissue injuries.

Results: CPSO exhibited an antioxidant effect in DPPH scavenging assay. Moreover, the administration of CPSO (2 mL/kg) significantly attenuated alloxan-induced death and hyperglycemia (P < 0.001) in treated mice. Morphometric study of pancreas revealed that CPSO significantly protected islets of langerhans against alloxan induced-tissue alterations.

Conclusions: Based on theses results, CPSO can prevente alloxan-induced-diabetes by quenching free radicals produced by alloxan and inhibiting tissue injuries in pancreatic β-cells.

Keywords: Alloxan prevention; Antioxidant effect; Cactus pear seed oil; Diabetes mellitus; Opuntia ficus-indica; Oxidative stress.

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