Background and Objectives: Plant-based remedies have gained growing interest as effective options for managing diabetes and its associated complications. The purpose of this research was to assess the antihyperglycemic and protective properties of an aqueous extract from myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) fruit against the most prevalent diabetes-related complications in rats. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the effects of myrtle fruit extract on diabetes-related complications, including liver and kidney dysfunction, as well as its potential role in pancreatic β-cell regeneration.
Materials and Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were treated with varying doses of M. communis L. fruit extract (low, medium, and high) over a period of 3 weeks. Control rats received either no treatment or were administered a standard antidiabetic drug. Key parameters, including oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting blood glucose, two-hour postprandial glucoseinsulin levels, lipid profile, and serum biomarkers of liver and kidney function, were measured. Histopathological analyses of the renal, liver, and pancreatic tissues were performed to assess tissue damage and regeneration.
Results: The antihyperglycemic, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective activities of myrtle extract were investigated. Treatment with M. communis L. notably improved both short-term and long-term high blood sugar, reduced two-hour post-meal glucose levels, enhanced oral glucose tolerance (OGTT), and enhanced insulin levels in diabetic rats. Additionally, the extract demonstrated antihyperlipidemic effects and improved both the atherogenic index (AI) and the coronary artery risk index (CRI) in diabetic rats. Also, liver serum biomarkers and kidney dysfunction were attenuated by the extract in diabetic rats. Furthermore, liver, kidney, and pancreas histopathological examination confirmed that the corresponding pathological changes were significantly attenuated by myrtle in diabetic rats.
Conclusion: The Current study demonstrates that M. communis L. fruit extract exhibits antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective properties in STZ-induced diabetic rats. These properties may be partly mediated by regenerative processes in the pancreas and increased insulin secretion. Nonetheless, more research is necessary to thoroughly recognize the underlying molecular mechanisms. Limitations of the research include the lack of long-term clinical validation and the need for mechanistic studies to better define the role of β-cell regeneration.