The Anti-Diabetic, Anti-Oxidative And Hepatorenal Protective Effects of Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil Against Toxicity Caused by Alloxan in Wistar Rats

Anti-Diabetic and Organ-Protective Effects of C. Lanatus Seed Oil

Abstract

Background:  Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a disorder of metabolism represented by persistent hyperglycaemia due to the non-secretion or insensitivity of insulin. Pancreatic beta cells are responsible to release insulin and maintain blood glucose level. Alloxan is a cytotoxic glucose analogue that is experimentally used to damage pancreatic beta cells of rats for the creation of pancreatitis, oxidative stress and Diabetes. Watermelon seed oil (WMSO) is a reservoir of antioxidants and has been shown to produce defence against oxidative damage. Since oxidative stress is the primary cause of alloxan-induced pancreatic beta cell damage therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the anti-diabetic, anti-oxidative, and hepatorenal protective activities of WMSO on rats with alloxan-induced pancreatic beta cell damage.

Methodology: In this experimental study, eighteen healthy age-matched male Wistar rats of 150-200g were used and randomly allotted into three experimental groups (n=6). A-Group: (control-untreated), B-Group: (Alloxan-treated), C-Group: (Alloxan + WMSO treated) each containing Six rats. Following overnight fasting, an intra-peritoneal-injection of Alloxan 120mg/kg dissolved within 0.9% saline was given in group B & C rats whereas WMSO was additionally provided to group C rats in a dose of 2.5gm/kg daily via oral gavage for 21-days. Bodyweights were observed weekly and on 22nd-day, animals were sacrificed for biochemical assessments.

Results: The bodyweights were well maintained in group A whereas reduced in group B & C. Alloxan treatment in group B has been shown to cause beta cell damage evidenced by hyperglycaemia and decreased serum insulin levels. Alloxan also has caused impaired renal and hepatic functions in group B and indicated by significantly higher (p<0.05) levels of AST, ALT, ALP, urea, creatinine and BUN whereas significantly lower (p<0.05) levels of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, and GSH in comparison to group A. WMSO treatment in group C rats along with alloxan resulted in drop of hepatorenal and oxidative stress markers as endorsed by a significant (p<0.05) decline in AST, ALT, ALP, urea, creatinine and BUN while increase (p<0.05) in antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, and GSH when compared with group B.

Conclusion: The study proves ameliorative effects of WMSO against alloxan induced pancreatic beta cell damage in rats. WMSO also has been shown promising hepatorenal protective effects via reducing oxidative stress thereby endorsing its anti-diabetic and antioxidant potential. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus (DM), Hepatorenal, Hyperglycaemia, Oxidative stress, Water melon seed oil (WMSO).

To cite this article: Nasir I, Naz L, Mughal MA, Nisar M. The Anti-Diabetic, Anti-Oxidative and Hepatorenal Protective Effects of Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil against Toxicity caused by Alloxan in Wistar Rats. Pakistan Journal of Rehabilitation. 2026; 15(1):9-13.