Wilson Jerine Shyni

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of ellagic acid on physical and biochemical parameters and histopathological changes in tissues of streptozotocin (STZ) - induced diabetes in wistar rats. Diabetes was induced in wistar rats by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (45mg/kg body weight). STZ-induced diabetic rats showed a significant increase in kidney weight, food intake, water intake, blood urea, serum uric acid and creatinine and a significant decrease in body weight, liver weight, plasma total protein and albumin when compared to normal rats. Oral administration of ellagic acid (50 and 100 mg/kg) in STZ-induced diabetic rats for a period of 35 days significantly improved body weight and reduced food intake and water intake when compared with diabetic control rats. Ellagic acid administration in STZ-induced diabetic rats restored the liver and kidney weight and also the biochemical parameters to near normal when compared to diabetic control rats. The results of the present study clearly show the preventive role of ellagic acid in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Results obtained from histopathological studies also supported the anti-diabetic effect of ellagic acid in STZ- induced diabetes.