Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of dietary supplementation of plantago psyllium seeds on diabetic and/ or hyperlipidemic albino rats

This study was designed to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of plantago psyllium seeds added to diet in two different doses (0.5% and 1.0% w\w) on strepotozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats and/or hyperlipidemic rats. Eighty male adult albino rats were used in this study, divided into 10 groups 8 rats each. G (1): served as healthy control, G (2) was diabetic control. G (3) was hyperlipidemic control. G (4) was diabetic fed on high fat high cholesterol diet (HFHC). Gs: (5-6) diabetic rats fed on diet supplemented with plantago psyllium seeds (0.5% &1% w\w).Gs (7-8) hyperlipidemic rats fed on HFHC diet supplemented with plantago psyllium seeds (0.5% & 1% w\w).Gs (9-10) diabetic rats fed on HFHC diet supplemented with psyllium seeds (0.5% & 1% w\w).  After 6 weeks, rats were sacrificed under diethyl ether anesthesia. Serum and tissue samples were collected to perform the biochemical analysis. Serum glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta cell function index (HOMA-β) were measured. Moreover, Serum lipids profile including total lipid (TL), phospholipids (PL),total cholesterol (TC),triacylglycerols (TAGs),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C),             as well as LDL-C/ HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, TAGs/HDL-C ratios and atherogenic index (AI) were measured. Also, antioxidant status was evaluated by measuring total antioxidants capacity (TAC) level, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidative stress index (OSI). The results were supported with microscopic examination of pancreatic tissues. The results of this study revealed that administration of plantago psyllium seeds improve glucose homeostasis by decreasing blood glucose, increasing β-cell function, increasing serum insulin level and insulin sensitivity in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Also, plantago psyllium seeds ameliorate insulin resistance in hyperlipidemic groups by decreasing insulin level. The result of this study approved that psyllium seeds improve dyslipidemia relevant to HFHC diet and diabetes mainly through decreasing TL, PL, TC, TAGs, LDL-C, VLDL-C and increasing HDL-C. Furthermore, plantago psyllium seeds showed an important cardio protective effect through decreasing AI , TC/HDL-C,TAGs/HDL-C and LDL-C/ HDL-C ratios as a risk for coronary heart disease (CHD).The study revealed that plantago psyllium seeds has a significant antioxidant activity and can be used to protect tissue from oxidative stress as indicated in microscopic examination of pancreatic tissue showed amelioration in the appearance of cells .The result showed a significant decrease in  serum MDA and OSI and a significant increase in TAC level ,GPx and G6PDactivities .The protective effect of plantago psyllium seeds  is due to their antioxidant potential which represented by their rich content of dietary fibers, flavonoids, poly unsaturated fatty acids, and some polyphenols that appears to protect against reactive oxygen species (ROS).