Antidiabetic Activities of Foeniculum Vulgare Mill. Essential Oil in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background: Foeniculum vulgare  Mill (F. Apiaceae) is an ancient common herb and spice known to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, traditionally used as a carminative, a weak diuretic and lactation stimulant. Aim:  To evaluate the essential oil of  Foeniculum vulgare  Mill for its hypoglycaemic effect and antioxidant activity in addition to histopathological study in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Material and Methods:  Rats were divided into 3 groups; normal control, diabetic control, and diabetic group receiving orally Foeniculum vulgare  Mill essential oil (30 mg/kg bw).The dose of essential oil was chosen according to its LD50. Serum glucose and whole blood glutathione peroxidase were measured in addition to histopathological study of rats kidney and pancreas. Results:  Ingestion of essential oil of  Foeniculum vulgare  Mill to diabetic rats corrected the hyperglycemia from (162.5 ± 3.19 mg/dl) to (81.97 ± 1.97 mg/dl) with p<0.05 and the activity of serum glutathione peroxidase from (59.72 ± 2.78 U/g Hb) to (99.60 ± 6.38 U/g Hb) with p<0.05. Also, improved the pathological changes noticed in their kidney and pancreas. Conclusion:  Essential oil of  Foeniculum vulgare  Mill corrected the hyperglycemia and pathological abnormalities in diabetic induced rats, which could be in part through its antioxidative effect and restoring of redox homeostasis. This makes the possibility of its inclusion in antidiabetic drug industry.