Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a lifelong metabolic condition resulting from chronic hyperglycemia. Non-alcoholic fatty liver and cirrhosis are among the most important complications of diabetes, which are associated with increased mortality. This study aimed to re-emphasize the protective effects of Ajwa seeds (Phoenix dactylifera seeds) against hepatic damage caused by diabetes, and to investigate the mechanisms underlying it, specifically the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic ones. Five groups (n = 5) of adults male Wistar rats were created. Group 1 was the control, group 2 was the control treated with Ajwa seeds (1g/kg), group 3 was the diabetes (STZ, 35 mg/kg), group 4 was the diabetes treated with Metformin (150 mg/kg), and group 5 was the diabetes treated with Ajwa seeds (1 g/kg). Metformin and Ajwa seeds suspension were administered orally using oral gavage six days a week, for four weeks. Ajwa seeds suspension significantly lowered STZ-induced hyperglycemia and increasing insulin secretion. It reduced the elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH), and improved liver tissue pathological features. Ajwa seeds increasedliver concentrations of enzymatic (SOD and CAT) and non-enzymatic (GSH) antioxidants and reduced levels of oxidative stress products (MDA and AGE). Ajwa seeds lowered the levels of inflammatory mediators (TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B) and NF-kappa B protein expression. Moreover Ajwa seeds lowered the hepatic protein expression of pro-apoptotic marker, caspase 3. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties of Ajwa seeds can explain their hepatoprotective effects in this diabetes model.