Hypoglycaemic Effect of γ-Irradiated Clove Extract on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

 DIABETES is characterized by hyperglycaemia and elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Clove is full of natural antioxidants such as polyphenols and essential oils. The aim of the study was to investigate the hypoglycaemic effect of clove extract in diabetic rats.
The results with test rats indicated that alloxan administration induced the elevation of glucose level, activity of some liver enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA), urea and creatinine concentrations as well as the level of some lipid contents.
While the level of insulin, total thyroid hormones triiodothyronin (T
3) and thyroxine (T4), glutathione content (GSH) in addition to the concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) were decreased under the effect of alloxan.
As a result of treatment of diabetic rats with raw or irradiated clove extract, hyperglycaemia, hepatic, renal and endocrine abnormalities induced by alloxan were improved.
Conclusion: clove extract exerts a dietary antidiabetic benefit and affect a partial normalization of the biochemical changes associated with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Furthermore, the study indicated that treatment of cloves with 10 kGy of gamma irradiation had no significant effect on the antidiabetic properties of the extract made from such cloves. This confirms the suitability of irradiation for the improvement of the hygienic quality of cloves.