Effect of Crataegus Azarolus on blood glucose, lipid profile and antioxidant status in streptozotocin diabetic rats fed zinc deficient diet

Abstract Objective zinc plays an important role in insulin's biosynthesis and storage. Consequently, its deficiency may have a deleterious impact on the progression of diabetes and associated consequences. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of Hawthorn “Crataegus Azarolus” on blood biochemical parameters, tissue zinc status, and oxidative stress biomarkers in streptozotocin diabetic rats fed zinc insufficient diet. Methods Thirty-two males albino Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: 2 groups were fed zinc-sufficient diet (One non-diabetic and the other diabetic), while the others 2 groups of diabetic rats were fed zinc insufficient diet. One non-treated group and the other treated with the extract of Crataegus Azarolus (150mg/kg Body weight). Body weight and food intake were recorded regularly. After 4 weeks of dietary manipulation, fasting animals were scarified Results zinc deficiency feed decreased body-weight, insulin, zinc tissues (femur, liver, kidney, and pancreas), glutathione concentrations, lactic dehydrogenase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities. It was also noticed that inadequate dietary zinc intake increased concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, uric acid, creatinine, lipid peroxidation levels, and transaminases activities. However, oral administration of hawthorn extract ameliorated all the previous parameters approximately to their normal levels. Conclusion the present study showed that Crataegus Azarolus supplementation presumably acting as an antioxidant, and it can be a natural source for the reduction of diabetes development caused by zinc deficiency.