The Anti-Diabetic, Anti-Oxidative And Hepatorenal Protective Effects of Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil Against Toxicity Caused by Alloxan in Wistar Rats

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a disorder of metabolism represented by persistent hyperglycaemia due to the non-secretion or insensitivity of insulin. Pancreatic beta cells are responsible to release insulin and maintain blood glucose level. Alloxan is a cytotoxic glucose analogue that is experimentally used to damage pancreatic beta cells of rats for the creation of pancreatitis, oxidative stress and Diabetes. Watermelon seed oil (WMSO) is a reservoir of antioxidants and has been shown to produce defence against oxidative damage. Since oxidative stress is the primary cause of alloxan-induced pancreatic beta cell damage therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the anti-diabetic, anti-oxidative, and hepatorenal protective activities of WMSO on rats with alloxan-induced pancreatic beta cell damage. Methodology: In this experimental study, eighteen healthy age-matched male Wistar rats of 150-200g were used and randomly allotted into three experimental groups (n=6). A-Group: (control-untreated), B-Group: (Alloxan-treated), C-Group: (Alloxan + WMSO treated) each containing Six rats. Following overnight fasting, an intra-peritoneal-injection of Alloxan 120mg/kg dissolved within 0.9% saline was given in group B & C rats whereas WMSO was additionally provided to group C rats in a dose of 2.5gm/kg daily via oral gavage for 21-days. Bodyweights were observed weekly and on 22nd-day, animals were sacrificed for biochemical assessments. Results: The bodyweights were well maintained in group A whereas reduced in group B & C. Alloxan treatment in group B has been shown to cause beta cell damage evidenced by hyperglycaemia and decreased serum insulin levels. Alloxan also has caused impaired renal and hepatic functions in group B and indicated by significantly higher (p