Immunomodulatory, beta-cell, and neuroprotective actions of fenugreek oil from alloxan-induced diabetes

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2010 Sep;32(3):437-45. doi: 10.3109/08923970903490486.

Abstract

Immunological disorders and nephropathy are among the most frequent and serious complications of diabetes mellitus. This shows that fewer infiltrated inflammatory cells evidenced by reverted back to near the normal value of white blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, and lymphocytes counts as interleukin-6 in pancreas. Also, fenugreek oil significantly improved blood glucose levels, glucose intolerance, and insulin sensitivity compared to the diabetic group. The pancreatic islet and less beta-cells damage were observed after the administration of fenugreek oil to diabetic rats. Moreover, diabetic rats showed low activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione content in kidney, which were restored to near normal levels by treatment with fenugreek oil. The increased levels of lipid peroxidation, creatinine, albumin, and urea in diabetic rats decreased significantly in diabetic rats treated with fenugreek oil. Diabetic rats treated with fenugreek oil restored almost a normal architecture of pancreas and kidney. In conclusion, this study reveals the efficacy of fenugreek oil in the amelioration of diabetes, hematological status, and renal toxicity which may be attributed to its immunomodulatory activity and insulin stimulation action along with its antioxidant potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / analysis
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / enzymology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / immunology
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / metabolism
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / drug effects*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / immunology
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / pathology
  • Interleukin-6 / analysis
  • Kidney Function Tests
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Male
  • Neuroprotective Agents / immunology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / metabolism
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Plant Oils / pharmacology*
  • Plant Oils / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Trigonella*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Interleukin-6
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Plant Oils