Abstract
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease and is considered as the third leading cause of death in the developed countries. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the antidiabetic, antioxidant and insulin-enhancing potentials of the aqueous extracts of R. mucronata and A. marina or combination of them. Materials and methods: The effects of daily oral administration of aqueous extract from the leaves of R. mucronata, A. marina (400 mg/kg BW for each) and combination of both for 6 weeks on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were evaluated considering the blood glucose and insulin levels in the serum. Oxidant/antioxidants status was assessed in the cardiac and muscular tissues. Immunohistochemical expression of insulin in the pancreatic tissue was also assessed. Results: Oral administration of the plants extracts alleviated the diabetes-induced changes in serum glucose, insulin and antioxidants status in the heart and muscles compared to the untreated rats. In addition, these plants enhanced insulin secretion by beta-cells of Langerhans as evidence immunohistochemically and biochemically through calculation of HOMA-beta. Conclusion: The extract of R. mucronata exhibited a promising antidiabetic, antioxidant and insulin-enhancing effects compared with A. marina extract alone or in combination with R. mucronata.