Evaluation of protective effect of cactus pear seed oil (Opuntia ficus-indica L. MILL.) against alloxan-induced diabetes in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the in vitro antioxidant power of cactus pear seed oil [Opuntia ficus-indica L. MILL. (CPSO)] and its protective effect against chemically induced diabetes mellitus in mice.


METHODS
The in vitro antioxidant effect of CPSO was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. The preventive effect was conducted on Swiss albino mice treated with CPSO (2 mL/kg, per os), before and after a single intraperitoneal alloxan administration (100 mg/kg). Survival rate, body weight and fasting blood glucose were measured and histopathological analysis of pancreas was performed to evaluate alloxan-induced tissue injuries.


RESULTS
CPSO exhibited an antioxidant effect in DPPH scavenging assay. Moreover, the administration of CPSO (2 mL/kg) significantly attenuated alloxan-induced death and hyperglycemia (P < 0.001) in treated mice. Morphometric study of pancreas revealed that CPSO significantly protected islets of langerhans against alloxan induced-tissue alterations.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on theses results, CPSO can prevente alloxan-induced-diabetes by quenching free radicals produced by alloxan and inhibiting tissue injuries in pancreatic β-cells.
Laboratory of Physiology and Ethnopharmacology-URAC40, Mohammed First University, Faculty of Sciences, Oujda, Morocco.
Ali
A
Berraaouan
Laboratory of Physiology and Ethnopharmacology-URAC40, Mohammed First University, Faculty of Sciences, Oujda, Morocco.
Ziyyat
Z
Abderrahim
Laboratory of Physiology and Ethnopharmacology-URAC40, Mohammed First University, Faculty of Sciences, Oujda, Morocco.
Mekhfi
M
Hassane
Laboratory of Physiology and Ethnopharmacology-URAC40, Mohammed First University, Faculty of Sciences, Oujda, Morocco.
Legssyer
L
Abdelkhaleq
Laboratory of Physiology and Ethnopharmacology-URAC40, Mohammed First University, Faculty of Sciences, Oujda, Morocco.
Aziz
A
Mohammed
Laboratory of Physiology and Ethnopharmacology-URAC40, Mohammed First University, Faculty of Sciences, Oujda, Morocco. Electronic address: mbnouham@yahoo.fr.
Bnouham
B
Mohamed
Alloxan prevention; Antioxidant effect; Cactus pear seed oil; Diabetes mellitus; Opuntia ficus-indica; Oxidative stress