Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic, Antilipidemic, and Protective Effect of Polyherbal Emulsion (F6-SMONSECCE) on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

The current study focused on the antioxidant potential, α-amylase inhibitory activity, and hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and histoprotective (pancreas and kidney) effects of polyherbal emulsion on the alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Polyherbal formulations were prepared from extracts and oils of Nigella sativa (N. sativa), Citrullus colocynthis (C. colocynthis), and Silybum marianum (S. marianum). Out of nine stable formulations, one formulation named F6-SMONSECCE was found to be the best after its evaluation using antioxidant and in vitro α-amylase inhibition assay. The prepared herbal formulations showed significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity in terms of radical scavenging as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays and also revealed the presence of a significant amount of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. "F6- SMONSECCE" (prepared with composition; Silybum marianum oil (SMO) + Nigella sativa extract (NSE) + Citrullus colocynthis extract CCE) was selected for an in vivo trial to ascertain its antidiabetic potential. The treatment dose was determined by using an acute toxicity trial on rats. Administration of alloxan (150 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) significantly (P < 0.05) augmented the blood glucose levels and lipid contents as total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoproteins (LDL-c), and very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL-c). However, the levels of insulin and high-density lipoproteins (HDL-c) were found to be decreased, and the histopathological alterations were also found in the pancreas and kidney. The administration of the polyherbal formulation (F6-SMONSECCE) significantly attenuated the blood glucose levels (22.94%), TC (29.10%), TG (38.15%), LDL-c (27.58%), and VLDL-c (71.52%), whereas on the other side, the insulin (-149.15%) and HDL-c levels (-22.22%) were significantly increased. A significant histopathological normalization was observed in the pancreas and kidney tissues of the F6-SMONSECCE-treated rats. The current findings proposed that the prepared polyherbal formulation "F6-SMONSECCE" exhibited significant antioxidant, antilipidemic, and hypoglycemic potential and hence might be suggested as a remedy against diabetes or as a coadjuvant to synthetic medicines to maintain normal physiology.

Figure 1

Comparison of the effect of polyherbal emulsion and standard drug treatment on weekly blood glucose levels in the diabetic rats. Values are given as Mean ± SEM and analyzed by One way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test. a = control vs other groups, b = diabetic group vs diabetic treated groups, and c = standard drug treated group vs polyherbal emulsion given group. ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.

Figure 2

Effect of the polyherbal formulation on lipid profiles including TC, serum TG, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) of diabetic rats. Values are given as Mean ± SD. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. a = control vs other groups, b = the diabetic group vs other diabetic treated groups, c = standard drug vs herbal and coadministered group, and d = herbal vs co-administered group. ***P < 0.001.

Figure 3

Photomicrographs from sections of pancreas of Control (A, A1, A2) rats exhibiting properly organized exocrine (Ex) and endocrine (En) tissue, islet of Langerhans, and α (A cells) and β cells. Diabetic control sections (B, B1, B2) show complete disruption of exocrine and endocrine tissue, regressed islets and reduced number of α and β cells are clearly seen. Standard drug-treated pancreas sections (C, C1, C2) and herbal-treated (D, D1, D2) show improvement in histological structure of exocrine and endocrine tissue, well-organized islets, and an increase in the number of α and β cells.

Figure 4

Photomicrographs from sections of the kidney of the normal untreated rat (A) presenting well organized Bowman’s Capsule (B) with narrow periglomerular space (PG), a dense bunch of capillaries in the glomerulus (G), the normal proximal and distal tubules (arrows), the diabetic control (B) kidney sections show highly disorganized Bowman’s capsule, wide peri-glomerular space, and few capillaries in the glomerulus and the tubules with wide lumen. Sections from glibenclamide (G) treated diabetic rat kidney (C) and polyherbal emulsion-treated diabetic group (D) presents recovery signs in the arrangement of Bowman’s capsule, the glomeruli, and tubules.