Evaluation of the Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, and Antihyperlipidemic Activities of Apium dulce Extract in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder associated with pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, oxidative stress, and lipid abnormalities. Current antidiabetic therapies often fail to restore β-cell integrity or address oxidative and metabolic complications. This study investigated the protective and restorative effects of the Methanolic Extract of Apium dulce (MEAD) on β-cell function, oxidative stress, and dyslipidaemia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (55 mg/kg). Rats were divided into five groups: normal control, diabetic control, MEAD (100 mg/kg), MEAD (300 mg/kg), and glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg). Treatments were administered orally for 28 days. Biochemical parameters including fasting glucose, serum insulin, HOMA-β, oxidative-stress markers (MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH), lipid profile, and pancreatic histology were evaluated. MEAD significantly reduced fasting glucose and MDA levels while enhancing insulin secretion, antioxidant enzymes, and lipid homeostasis in a dose-dependent manner. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed restoration of pancreatic β-cell morphology and insulin-positive areas comparable to glibenclamide. These findings indicate that MEAD exerts potent antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antihyperlipidaemic effects, primarily through β-cell protection and oxidative-stress attenuation.