Balanites aegyptiaca kernel extract (Desert Date)‎ protects against diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy in rats : a histological and biochemical study

Abstract EN

Diabetes mellitus had harmful effects on the cardiac muscle.

Balanites aegyptiaca (B.

aegyptiaca) is common African and planted in Saudi Arabia has many medicinal activities, including antidiabetic.

This study aimed to investigate possible protective effect of B.

aegyptiaca kernel extract on cardiac diseases associated with diabetes in rats.

Thirty male Wister rats (180–240 g) were sorted into 5 groups.

Group I (control), Group II (B.

aegyptiaca), Group III (Diabetes), Group IV (Diabetes+B.

aegyptiaca), and Group V: (Diabetes+metformin).

Diabetes was produced in groups III, IV, and V by injecting one dose of STZ (45 mg/kg).

Experiment and treatment duration with both B.

aegyptiaca and metformin was 6 weeks.

Diabetic rats treated with B.

aegyptiaca kernel extract significantly decreased fasting blood glucose, serum levels of troponin I, creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), and malondialdehyde.

Administration of B.

aegyptiaca extract to diabetic rats significantly increased serum catalase enzyme activity.

B.

aegyptiaca extract preserved normal histological status of coronary artery and cardiac muscle in diabetic rats.

In conclusion, B.

aegyptiaca kernel extract has protective effect against cardiac dysfunction associated with experimentally induced diabetes via decreasing fasting blood glucose, improving coronary blood vessels histology via an antioxidant mechanism-