Biochemical study on the protective effect of ethanolic extract of Zygophyllum album on streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress and toxicity in mice

This study aims at the assessment of the effect of Zygophyllum album extract on β-cell damage and antioxidant defence systems of liver and pancreas against the streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes in mice. The effects of oral administration of ethanolic Zygophyllum album extract during 15 days in STZ-induced diabetic mice were investigated. The extract shows a significant decrease of the activity of blood glucose, lipid peroxidation in the liver and the pancreas. Furthermore, the treated diabetic mice showed significant increase in enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants of defence systems such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), vitamin C, glutathione reductase (GSH) and significant decrease in vitamin E. These results suggest that the extract from Zygophyllum album could exert their antidiabetic activities through their antioxidant properties.