Abstract
The potential application of Truffle (Terfeziaceae) and Desert Date tree (Balanites aegyptiaca) for modulating the diabetes mellitus related symptoms has gained much interest. However, less firm evidence has come from data to increase the understanding of the mechanism by which Truffle and Balanites protect pancreatic beta-cells. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Truffle and Balanites aegyptiaca on the fasting blood glucose (FBG) level; the changes in pancreatic histology as well as the changes in iNOS and IL-1 beta genes expression level among STZ induced diabetic rats which might help in better clarification of possible mechanisms beside the beneficial effects of the studied plants on diabetes. The elevation of the FBG level, pathological pancreatic changes and the level of both IL-1 beta and iNOS gene expressions in diabetic rats were observed in comparison with negative control rats. This increase was declined significantly due to the administration of Truffle and Balanites extracts. All of the studied parameters did not completely reverse to the normal levels as compared with negative control rats. The obtained results concluded that the beneficial effect of Truffle and Balanites aegyptiaca on STZ-induced diabetes was at least partly due to the reduction of IL-1 beta and iNOS gene over the expression which can have a protective effect on beta cell.