OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT POLYPHENOLS AND DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

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Background. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common diseases worldwide, affecting 415 million people. Aim. Abnormal glutamate homeostasis may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes with its direct and indirect effects on the integrity of the β-cells of pancreatic islets of Langerhans. The increased concentration of glutamate is present in all tissues with DM type 1 and type 2 DM. Material and Methods. Type 1 DM was chemically induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of glutamate in the liver of diabetic rats and to compare it to the level of glutamate in the liver of diabetic rats post-treated with different concentrations of polyphenols olive leaf extract (512, 768 and 1024 mg/kg). The concentration of glutamate was determined spectrophotometrically in 20% liver homogenate while polyacrylamide gel, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS-PAGE) was used to separate the proteins and to determine the difference in the expression of the same in the experimental groups. Material and Methods. The increased levels of glutamate were established in the liver of diabetic rats. In groups of animals with short diabetes (8 days), glutamate concentration was proved to be lower compared to a group of animals with long-term diabetes (30 days). Furthermore, the results showed a significantly lower concentration of glutamate in the liver of post treated animals with olive leaf extract in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions. The results of this research lead to the conclusion that the olive leaf extract can be used in the treatment and co-treatment of type 1 DM and thus narrowing the consequences and complications that occur as a result of this multi-functional disease.