Comparative effects of Carica Papaya, Avocado Pear and Ginger Extracts on the Histological Structure of the Pancreas of Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Introduction: The increasing global prevalence of diabetes mellitus requires a holistic approach for its management. This study was carried out to compare the effects of Carica papaya (Pawpaw) leaves, Persea americana (Avocado pear) and Zingiber officinale (Ginger) on the histological structure of the pancreas of Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic wistar rats.

Methodology: Fifty (50) male wistar rats with weights ranging from 170-250g were used for this study. They were divided into five groups (I, II, III, IV, and V) of 10 rats each. Groups II, III, IV and V were given 50 mg/kg STZ freshly dissolved in 0.1M citrate buffer (PH 4.5) in a volume of 1ml/kg body weight intraperitoneally to induce diabetes mellitus while Group A served as non-diabetic controls while Group B served positive controls. Group C, D, and E were given 3g/100ml body weight of freshly prepared of aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaves, Avocado Pear and Ginger respectively. The treatment continued for 28 days, then rats were anesthetized, and their pancreas were extirpated and processed for light microscopic examinations. The blood glucose levels were determined, and the weights were also taken at baseline and during the treatment.

Results: The STZ-induced rats exhibited hyperglycemia accompanied with increases in glucose and loss in body weight. Aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaves, Avocado Pear and Ginger were found effective in lowering serum glucose and returned the weight of treated diabetic rats to almost original values. Microscopic examination of the pancreatic sections of diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaves, Avocado Pear and Ginger revealed regeneration of islet of langerhans compared with the untreated diabetic group. Although the three plants have regenerative abilities on islets of Langerhans, Carica papaya has more regenerative potentials than the other two plants.

Conclusion: Results from this study showed that treatment with aqueous extracts from Carica papaya, Avocado Pear, and Ginger were effective in lowering hyperglycemia Spreptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats.

Recommendation: The herbal plants used for this study should be used as candidate substances for the development of regimens for the management and treatment of diabetes mellitus.