Conclusion
The aqueous extract of P. santalinus ameliorates diabetes mellitus via anti-inflammatory pathways and enhancement of insulin function.
Methods
Thirty male rats were divided into five groups of six rats each as follows: control; the second group, received the aqueous plant extract (250 mg/kg) orally and daily for three weeks; the third group, was intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of 65 mg/kg of STZ and sacrificed after four weeks; the fourth and fifth groups, were injected with STZ, then after one week these were treated orally with either plant extract or with 3 mg/kg of glustin for three weeks, then sacrificed.
Results
HPLC analysis of the plant aqueous extract showed that it contains many polyphenols and flavonoids. Treatment with STZ resulted in significant reductions in body weight, insulin level, and the expression of Fetuin-A and IRS-1. It also caused significant elevations in glucose, HOMA-IR, glycated hemoglobin, urea, and the expression of JNK and SIRT-1. STZ also caused an extensive β-cell degranulation and decreased cellular density. The aqueous extract of red sandalwood was able to abrogate the deleterious effects caused by STZ and improved the histological architecture of pancreas.