MOLECULAR INVESTIGATION OF ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECT OF BALANITES AEGYPTIACA FRUITS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Balanites aegyptiaca (B. aegyptiaca) is an anti-diabetic medicinal plant traditionally used in Egyptian folk medicine as alternative therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. No available studies revealed the mechanism(s) of the associated anti-diabetic effect especially at the molecular level. This study aimed to explore the possible molecular mechanism(s) that underline B. aegyptiaca fruits aqueous extract administration in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Four equal groups (n=10) of albino rats were used. The prepared aqueous extract of B. aegyptiaca fruits was given orally (80 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks) to normal control and streptozotocin (65 mg/kg BW, i. p.) -induced-diabetic rats. Administration of B. aegyptiaca fruits aqueous extract in diabetic rats significantly elevated the serum insulin (91%) and reduced serum glucose (54%), cholesterol (26%), triglycerides (16%) and LDL cholesterol (25%) compared to the diabetic control. Produced hypoglycemia in treated diabetic rats simultaneously accompanied at least by significant improving (p