Effect of Flax Seeds and Date Palm Leaves Extracts on Serum Concentrations of Glucose and Lipids in Alooxan Diabetic Rats

The aim of the present investigation was to examine the effect of flax seeds (FS) and Date Palm Leaves (DPL) extracts on the concentration of serum glucose and lipids in alloxan diabetic rats.  Rats were divided into six groups, normal control rats (without treatment with either FS or DPL), normal control rats treated with either FS or DPL extract for four weeks, diabetic control rats and diabetic rats treated with either FS of DPL extract for four weeks. The concentration of glucose in diabetic rats treated with FS (D+FS) for four weeks was significantly  decreased from 17.20�2.33 to 8.14�0.54 mmol L-1 (p<0.001). Serum total cholesterol concentration (TC) of diabetic rats treated with either FS or DPL extract showed significant decrease by 40 and 31% respectively in four weeks. Also, serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration was significantly decreased after two weeks of treatment (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). However, no significant changes were obtained in serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration. Results of the present study showed that FS extract has a hypoglycaemic effect against alloxan diabetic rats. Present findings also showed that treatment of alloxan diabetic rats with either Fs or DPL extract significantly decreased serum concentration of TC and LDL-C. Present findings suggest that both of FS and DPL extracts could have a protective effect against diabetes complications as well as against hyperlipidemia through improvement of lipid profile.  (Author�s abstract)
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that is characterized by impairment of glucose metabolism and utilization. Flaxseed has been shown in animal models to be effective in the reduction of risk factors of atherosclerosis due in part to its antioxidant activities. The present investigation assesses the effect flax seeds (Linum usitatissimum) and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) leaves extracts on serum concentration of glucose and lipids in alloxan diabetic rats. After 2 weeks, serum glucose concentration of NC rats treatment with FS or DPL was not significantly different from that of NC rats without treatment. After 4 weeks treatment with FS extract NC rats showed significant decrease in serum glucose concentration. Treatment of NC rats with FS extract reduced TC significantly by 37 and 55% after 2 and 4 weeks of treatments. FS had no significant effect on serum TG concentration however, this could be due concentration of FS. Serum concentration of LDL-C was significantly decreased 21% and 29% respectively, after 4 weeks treatment of NC rats with either FS or DPL.  Serum glucose concentration of diabetic rats treated with FS extract for 2, 3 and 4 weeks was significantly decreased. In contrast, no significant changes were noticed in the same parameters of diabetic rats treated with DPL extract throughout the study period. Serum TC concentration of diabetic rats treated with either FS or DPL extract showed significant decreases.  Both of FS and DPL extracts were significantly reduced serum TG levels of diabetic rats. The decrease in serum LDL-C level after treating diabetic rats with FS extract could be due to seciosolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG).  The findings of the present investigation show that FS had a significant decrease of both serum concentration of TC and LDL-C, and had positive effects on serum glucose. (Editor�s comments)