Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of Vitis vinifera ethanol seed extract (SE) on pancreatic function markers associated with streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.Methods: Non-diabetic rats (n = 12) were divided into 2 groups (GRPs); GRP1 served as the control, and GRP2 was administered orally with V. vinifera SE (500 mg/kg). Diabetic rats were divided into 2 GRPs; GRP3 served as the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, and GRP4 diabetic rats received V. vinifera SE (500 mg/kg). Blood was collected at the end of 4 weeks, and serum glucose and lipid profile were measured using colorimetric enzymatic kits. Serum insulin, and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Histopathological alterations in pancreas were determined, while omentin-1 mRNA expression was investigated using quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).Results: V. vinifera SE protected pancreatic function in diabetic rats. V. vinifera SE significantly increased serum insulin and HDL (p < 0.001), besides significantly decreasing serum glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL (p < 0.001). Pathological studies also showed that V. vinifera SE preserved the pancreatic beta cells' shape, size, and cell population in the diabetic GRP. The extract significantly decreased serum IL-1 beta levels in diabetic rats (p < 0.001). Besides, the data demonstrated a significant up-regulation in omentin-1 mRNA expression in diabetic rats treated with V. vinifera SE.Conclusion: V. vinifera SE has anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic properties in streptozotocin-induced rat model. The underlying mechanism of action might be a decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1 beta) and increase in omentin mRNA. Clinical trials are required to validate these findings.