Pretreatment with Ajwa dates (Phoenix dactylifera Linn) prevents development of alloxan-induced diabetes in rats

ABSTRACT Background and Objective: A global increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress is a fundamental component in the pathogenesis of DM Ajwa dates are known to have a high antioxidant content, especially in their seeds. Hence this study was designed to determine the preventive effects of Ajwa date fruit on alloxan-induced diabetes in an experimental rat model. Methods: This experimental study was conducted at the Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups with eight animals in each. Rats in group A were normal control, whereas rats in group B were induced with intraperitoneal alloxan (160 mg/kg body weight) to develop diabetes. Groups C, D, and E rats were fed on a diet supplemented with Ajwa flesh, seed, and whole Ajwa respectively for 1 week. Blood and urine glucose levels were measured on days 0, 7 (pre-alloxan) and 11, 14, 19 (post-alloxan). Serum insulin, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) for β-cell function (HOMA-β), and insulin resistance (HOMA[1]IR) were estimated terminally. Results: Diabetes was induced successfully in animals of all experimental groups except the normal control group. Rats of the Ajwa-seed group (D) showed relative resistance to diabetes induction with three non-diabetic rats on day 19. In group E, rats had lower blood sugar levels than rats in group C (p = 0.010). Serum insulin, HOMA-β and HOMA-IR, revealed partial beta cells restoration in the experimental animals of groups D and C. Insulin resistance was significantly higher, despite the highest insulin level (3.77 µIU/ml; p value <0.001) in group C. Conclusion: Ajwa date seed powder appears to provide relative protection against the development of diabetes in rats induced by alloxan.