Histopathologic study of pancreas in streptozotocin - induced diabetic rats treated with ethanolic extract of Portulaca oleracea (Purslane)

Diabetes mellitus is a constellation of metabolic disorders that increase blood glucose and factors such as genetics, environmental factors, life-style habits that are involved in creating. In this study, to evaluate the effect of alcoholic extract of purslane on diabetic rats, 36 adult male Wistar rats were used in six groups, respectively, including healthy controls, diabetic with streptozotocin, diabetic with streptozotocin and treated with Purslane extract (200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks (T1), diabetic with streptozotocin and treated with Purslane extract (400 mg/kg) for 4 weeks (T2), treatment with Purslane extract (200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks thereafter induction of diabetes with streptozotocin (T3), treatment with Purslane extract (400 mg/kg) for 4 weeks and then inducing diabetes with streptozotocin (T4). Blood glucose was measured at the end of each week. At the end of experiment, all rats were euthanized, and pancreas tissue samples were placed in 10% buffered formalin and referred to pathology laboratory for histopathology slides preparation. Histopathological findings demonstrated islet cell necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in diabetic rats. Purslane extract-treated groups showed significant reduction in the severity of the injuries. This reduction was greater in T3 and T4 groups compared to others. The results obtained showed anti-diabetic activities of purslane extract which is probably related to its antioxidant properties.