Abrar Mohammad Al-Ahmadi

Diabetes alters the biochemical pathways of body and increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to cardiovascular diseases. Compounds showing antioxidant activity could have a protective role against cardiovascular disease in diabetes. The current study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of senna (Cassia angustifolia) and/or fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) against streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes in rats. Rats were divided into five groups: control, diabetic (60 mg·kg⁻¹of STZ), diabetic rats treated with senna (150mg/kg/day), diabetic rats administered with fennel (120mg/kg/day) and diabetic rats administered with a combination of senna and fennel. Diabetic rats demonstrated a substantial increment in the levels of blood glucose, lipid profile, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, nitric oxide and xanthine oxidase accompanied with a noteworthy decline in reduced glutathione content, vitamin C level and catalase activity in heart tissues with comparison to the control group. Daily oral treatment of senna or fennel aqueous extract for 4 consecutive weeks showed a marked attenuation of oxidative stress in heart tissues. Combination of both senna and fennel extracts exhibited more amelioration than these extracts alone and reversed the adverse effect of diabetes in rats by bringing blood glucose levels and lipid profile near to that of control.  The present investigation has demonstrated that treatment with a combination of senna and fennel extracts in STZ induced diabetes in rats show significant antidiabetic activity and pronounced cardioprotective effects.