Histopathologic study of pancreas in streptozotocin –induced diabetic rats treated with ethanolic extract of Portulaca oleracea (Purslane)

Subject Areas : Journal of Comparative Pathobiology

Mortazavi. P.*, Aghaey Meybodi, M., Poosty, I., Hoseiny, S.  . ¹ ()

Received: 2014-05-09 Accepted : 2014-09-02 Published : 2014-09-23

Keywords: Portulaca Oleracea, Diabetes, Rat, Streptozotocin,

Abstract :

Diabetes mellitus is a constellation of metabolic disorders that increase blood glucose andfactors such as genetics, environmental factors, life-style habits that are involved in creating.In this study, to evaluate the effect of alcoholic extract of purslane on diabetic rats, 36 adultmale Wistar rats were used in six groups, respectively, including healthy controls, diabetic withstreptozotocin, diabetic with streptozotocin and treated with Purslane extract (200 mg/kg) for 4weeks (T1), diabetic with streptozotocin and treated with Purslane extract (400 mg/kg) for 4weeks (T2), treatment with Purslane extract (200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks thereafter induction ofdiabetes with streptozotocin (T3), treatment with Purslane extract (400 mg/kg) for 4 weeks andthen inducing diabetes with streptozotocin (T4). Blood glucose was measured at the end of eachweek. At the end of experiment, all rats were euthanized, and pancreas tissue samples wereplaced in 10% buffered formalin and referred to pathology laboratory for histopathology slidespreparation.Histopathological findings demonstrated islet cell necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration indiabetic rats. Purslane extract-treated groups showed significant reduction in the severity of theinjuries. This reduction was greater in T3 and T4 groups compared to others. The resultsobtained showed anti-diabetic activities of purslane extract which is probably related to itsantioxidant properties.