Abstract
Background: The efficacy of an extract from date seeds has been tested successfully on the
glycemic control of type I diabetes mellitus in rats. A suggestion that date seed extract could
stimulate certain cells to differentiate into insulin-secreting cells has been proposed. In order to
investigate such a possibility, this study was conducted to measure C-peptide levels in the serum
of type 1 diabetic rats treated with date seed extract.
Methods: Two hundred rats were divided into 4 groups. Group I served as the control. Group II
was given daily ingestions of 10 ml of date seed extract. Groups III and IV were made diabetic
by streptozotocin injection and were given daily subcutaneous injections of 3 IU/day of insulin
for 8 weeks. Group IV received, in addition, daily ingestions of 10 ml of seed extract. At the end
of experiment, blood samples were collected from each rat, and blood glucose and serum Cpeptide levels were measured.
Results: No significant differences in the means of blood glucose and serum C-peptide levels
were observed between groups I (control group) and II (date seed extract-treated control group).
Group IV (date seed extract-insulin-treated diabetic group) showed a statistically significant
reduction in the mean blood glucose level compared to Group III (insulin-treated diabetic group).
The mean serum C-peptide level was significantly higher in group IV compared to group III.
Conclusion: Biochemical results suggested an increase in endogenous insulin secretion in the
case of type 1 diabetic rats treated with date seed extract, which might be the cause of its
hypoglycemic effect.