Djebbar Atmani
University of Bejaia, Algeria
Title: Antidiabetic, anti-lipoperoxidation and hepatoprotective activities of Fraxinus angustifolia and Pistacia lentiscus extracts
Biography
Biography: Djebbar Atmani
Abstract
Fraxinus angustifolia (Lamiaceae) and Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) are two common Mediterranean plants used extensively in Algerian traditional medicine to cure inflammatory-related disorders as well as symptoms of diabetes. The anti-diabetic effect of F. angustifolia (leaves and bark) and P. lentiscus (leaves and fruits) extracts was evaluated using the streptozotocin-induced diabetes model in rats, whereas anti-lipoperoxidation activity was assessed with the malonaldehyde assay after injection of paracetamol to mice. The results indicate that F. angustifolia leaf extract (50 mg/Kg of body weight) and P. lentiscus leaf extract (100 mg/kg of body weight) induced a significant reduction (60%) of blood glucose level after 2 hours of administration of the extracts. Furthermore, extracts from both plants significantly reduced α-amylase activity. Analysis of liver homogenates showed an important decrease in the concentration of malonaldehydes in the group of mice treated with plant extracts (0.25 ± 0.006 and 0.26 ± 0.03 for F. angustifolia and P. lentiscus extracts, respectively), compared to that of non-treated animals (0,45± 0.005). Furthermore, plant extracts tested with concentrations up to 200mg/kg of body weight showed no signs of toxicity. Moreover, histological examination of the liver revealed significant protection against paracetamol-induced hepatic necrosis. Phenolic compounds identified in plant extracts could take, at least, partial responsibility for the observed anti-hyperglycaemic and antioxidant activities, thereby conferring these plants a promising protective capacity against oxidative stress.