Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.0
1.1
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction and literature review
Phoenix dactlifera L., date palm, is among the most important species in the palm family
(Arecaceae), which encompasses about 200 genera and more than 2,500 species (El-Hadrami and
El-Hadrami, 2009; Jain and Johnson, 2011). The specie name was inspired by the finger like
shape of the fruit and the genus from the legendary bird of ancient Greece (El-Hadrami and
Jameel Al-Kayri 2012). It is a long lived monocotyledonous specie and one of the tallest
domesticated tree. This perennial and dioecious species represents a cornerstone of the economy
in many producing countries, especially in North Africa and Middle East (El-Hadrami and
Jameel Al-Kayri 2012) Over 100 million trees are currently grown worldwide on an estimated
area of 1 million ha. Date palm provides fruit, fuel, fibre and shade for other essential cover
crops. Date fruit is a highly nutritious food product, rich in simple sugars such as glucose and
fructose (65% - 80%), a good source of fibres and some essential minerals and many vitamins
but low in fat and protein with no starch. In date fruits, proteins are in the range of 1-3% and
even though their amino acid pattern is favorable and per human needs. Date seed (pits)
constitute approximately 10% of the fruit on the average date seeds contained 5-7% protein, 710% fat, 10-20% Fibre, 1-2% ash, and 55-65% Carbohydrate on a dry weight basis. Mineral
analysis showed higher concentration of K followed by P, Mg, Ca, and Na. Commonly Date
palm pits are used as animal feed as they are rich in tannins and resistant starch in all parts of the
Date palm, apart from the roots which are used for a purpose best suited to them.
Diabetes is a group of metabolic disease in which a person has high blood sugar, either because
the pancrease does not produce enough insulin\, or because cell do not response to the insulin
that is produce. There are three types of diabetes; Type one which results from the bodys failure
to produce insulin. Type two which result from the insulin resistance. Type three (gestational
diabetes) occurs when pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of diabetes develop a high
blood glucose level.
1.1 Overview of Date medjool
The characteristic of Date medjool palm can be truly called tree of life and is distributed
throughout the Middle East, North Africa, South Sahel, areas of East and South Africa and even
certain parts Europe and USA. The fruit plays important roles in nutrition especially of human
population. Several products are made from the fruit which can generate employment and thus
influence socio- economic aspect of the life of people. This crop has a great potential as a source
of renewable energy, an alternative source of fossil energy, by producing bio-fuel since the fruits
are high in carbohydrate containing about 44-88% total sugars. The most basic way to grow a
date medjool palm is to plant a pit and wait for the pit to sprout, it can take up to 20 years for a
sprouted pit to yield a tree. Date palms that give rise to medjool fruit are believed to be
indigenous to the North African coast and Arabic Peninsula, and the land between this countries
remains the primary growing area (Mohan Jain 2012).
1.1.1 Geographical distribution of Date palm
Phoenix dactylifera is a widely distributed species occurring in diverse geographic, soil and
climate areas (El Hadrami et al., 2011a). the vast majority of the tree are located in the Middle
Eeast and North African although the crop has been established in California, Arizona and
Mexico in the Americas (Emirate Journal. 2012). The common requirement among the date palm
growing area is the high temperature (35oC). Date palm grows in nearly rainless regions at 9-39o
North latitude, which are represented by Sahara and Southern fringe of Near East (Emir. J 2012)
1.1.2 Botanical calssification
Date medjool is classified according to Dransfield and Uhl, (1986) as follows
Kingdom: plantae
Group: Spadiciflora
Order: Palmea
Family: Palmaceae
Sub family: Coryphyoideae
Tribe: Phoeniceae
Genus: Phoenix
Species: Dactylifera L.
1.2 Chemical composition of Date palm.
Dates has been shown to contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, copper,
manganese, selenium, vitamins A, A1, B, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and C as well as a variety of
amino acids (El-Hadrami, Al-Kayri and Jameel 2012). Dates also contain thiamine, riboflavin,
niacin, and pantothenic acid. These vitamins and minerals help the body produce haemoglobin,
which is a protein in red blood cells that binds to oxygen and carries oxygen from the lungs to
tissues (Emirate Journal. 2012). Potassium is an essential mineral that the body needs to maintain
proper muscle contractions including contractions of the heart muscle. Potassium also promotes
a healthy nervous system and efficient metabolism in the body. One serving of Dates contains
240 milligrams of potassium, which is more than the amount of potassium found in bananas.
1.2.1 Carbohydrate
Dates also contain carbohydrates that include 3 grams of dietary fibre and 29 of naturally
occurring sugars such as fructose, glucose, and sucrose. In other words, one serving of Date
contains 31 of carbohydrates, which supplies the body with large amounts of energy. Dates in
addition to being a good source of dietary fibre are sodium free, fat free, and cholesterol free.
Each of these factors are important for reducing the risk of developing heart disease and cancer.
The fibre found in Dates comes in two forms, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre have been
shown to help control diabetes by decreasing high blood sugar as well as lowering high
cholesterol, specifically low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Insoluble fibre increases the
bodys ability and rate at which food is processed through the digestive system.
Moreso, Dates have phenolic acids like gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric
acid, o-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, and ferulic acid. However, a sufficient amount
of carotenoids and antioxidants is lost when Dates are sun-dried.
In Dates, three main families of phenolics (hydroxycinnamates;flavonols, flavan-3-ols, flavan3,4-diols, proanthocyanidines) can be detected (El-Hadrami et al.,1998; Daayf et al., 2003; El
Hassni et al., 2004; JAiti et al., 2009).
Mansouri et al. (2005) and Biglari et al. (2008a) reported that the total phenolic content ranged
from 2.49 to 8.36 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100g of fresh weight of Algerian and Iranian
dates, respectively. A number of factors affect phenolic content in Date and may justify the
variations observed in the different studies. These include the cultivar, geographic origin,
growing conditions, maturity of the tested Dates, season fertilizers, soil types, amount of sunlight
received and condition of storage, sampling and extraction among others. Dates are rich in
carotenoid and provitamin A. Boudries et al. (2007) analyzed the content of these two
components in cvs. The major carotenoid pigments detected were lutein and beta carotene.
Variation in total carotenoid content were detected among cultivars in different ripening stages.
Provitamin A. value also varied with cultivar and ripening stage (El-Hadrami, and Jameel, 2012).
1.4 Nutritional value of Dates
Dates represent an important nutritional element in the diet of local populations where the trees
are grown. Dates contain a high percentage of carbohydrate (total sugar, 44-88%), protein (2.35.6%), fats (0.2-9-3%), essential salts and minerals, vitamins and an elevated proportion of
dietary fibre(6.4-11.5%) (El Hadrami and El Hadrami, 2009). They also contain oil in the flesh
(0.2-0.5%) and the seed (7.7-9.7%). The seed represent the entire fruit weight.
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1.7.2 Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is present in many tissues and is useful in evaluating
muscle and liver damage in small and large animals. AST is not liver specific in any domestic
animal species and the reference range in horses is rather broad. Skeletal muscle is the second
largest source of AST in animals. It is an absolute prerequisite to eliminate extrahepatic tissue
damage as a possible source of serum AST when evaluating the enzyme in relation to the liver.
In combinations with the physical examination and history, the evaluation of other serum
enzymes should aid in differentiating the source of increased AST levels. AST is present in both
the cytoplasm and mitochondria of hepatocytes (and many other cells) and will elevate in states
of altered membrane permeability. In such cases, levels are expected to be less than in states of
frank necrosis, when both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial enzymes are released.
1.7.3 Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is considered to be liver specific in small animals. This
enzyme is present in high concentrations in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Plasma concentrations
increase with hepatocellular, damage/necrosis, hepatocyte proliferation, or hepatocellular
degeneration. ALT is a cytoplasmic enzyme, and is considered to be liver specific in primates
and some other small animal species. There is little hepatic ALT activity in large domestic
animals. Thus, further comments regarding ALT will relate only to dogs and cats.
Elevation of serum levels of both AST and ALT can occur with states of altered hepatocellular
membrane permeability. Because ALT is located only in the cytoplasm, serum levels tend to be
relatively higher than AST, as a result of membrane leakage from the hepatocyte( ).
Mitochondrial enzymes are less likely to be released with most of the conditions which result in
increased membrane permeability. Many causes of altered membrane permeability are potentially
11
reversible but some may progress to hepatocellular necrosis which is essentially an irreversible
change. Causes of increased cell membrane permeability include:
Anoxia/circulatory hypoxia
The magnitude of both AST and ALT elevations in serum is generally related to the number of
hepatocytes affected.
The alkaline phosphatases are a group of enzymes which catalyze the hydrolysis of a phosphate
group from an organic molecule at an alkaline pH. They are called isoenzymes because they
catalyse the same reaction in the same species but have different biochemical properties ( ).
ALP is primarily bound to cell membranes. The physiological functions of these isoenzymes are
not fully understood although recent information suggests that one of the biological roles of ALP
is detoxification of endotoxin. ALP is found, to some extent, in all tissues and is relatively stable
in serum. However, only a few organs actually contribute to the circulating enzyme level.
An elevated alkaline phosphatase concentration is generally due to cholestasis in most adult
domestic animals ( ). A mild elevation in immature animals is likely to be the result of normal
bone growth. In dogs, when an elevated ALP value is seen, liver disease, Cushings disease, and
recent steroid therapy should all be considered. Prolonged steroid therapy resulting in iatrogenic
Cushings disease can be diagnosed on the basis of low pre and post ACTH cortisol levels.
12
The liver isoenzyme will be elevated in any active liver disease. In acute hepatocellular necrosis,
ALT, AST and GLDH are markedly elevated while ALP is only minimally elevated. Intrahepatic
and extrahepatic biliary obstruction causes more dramatic elevations of ALP, which in some
cases can be 10-20 times the normal level ( ). This is due to recycling as well as increased
synthesis of the liver isoenzymes. Extrahepatic biliary obstruction can be caused if the hepatic or
common bile duct is obstructed either partially or completely. Possible causes include tumour,
granulomatus inflammation, abscesses, pancreatitis and duodenitis.
The anticonvulsant drugs phenobarbitol, diphenyl hydantoin (phenytoin) and primidone can
cause minimal to marked elevations of the liver isoenzymes in dogs. The activity of ALT is also
usually increased in such situations. In cats, the liver contains much less ALP per gram of tissue
than dogs, and it is cleared from serum much more rapidly ( ). This causes the normal value to be
lower than in dogs, and mild elevations can be significant.
Elevations of the bone isoenzyme can be seen in young animals as a result of normal bone
growth, and occasionally with bone tumours. These elevations are usually minimal and are
seldom more than 2-3 times the normal value ( ).
1.8 Kidney
Kidney are a pair of organs located in the back of abdomen and serve several essential regulatory
role in most animals including vertebrate and some invertebrate. They are essential in the urinary
system and also serve homeostasis function such as regulation of electrolyte, maintenance of
acid-base balance and regulation of blood pressure (Wikipedia atom feed). They serve the body
as a natural filter of the blood, and remove waste which are diverted to the urinary bladder. In
13
producing urine, the kidneys excrete waste such as urea and ammonium, and they are also
responsible for the absorption also produce hormone including calcitroil, erythropoietin and the
enzyme renin.
1.8.1 Function
The kidney participates in whole body homeostasis regulating acid-base balance, electrolyte
concentration extracellular fluid volume and regulation of blood pressure, is also used to filter
the blood, as the kidney filter blood, they create urine, which collects in the kidney funnel-shape
structure that drain down tubes called ureters to the bladder.
1.9 Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from
defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both (American Diabetes Association, 2000; Wilds
et al., 2004). Insulin is a hormone synthesized by the beta cells of the pancreas, which is
required to utilize glucose from digested food as an energy source (Alberti, 1996). The chronic
hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated with long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of
various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels (American Diabetes
Association, 2007).
1.9.1 Alloxan
14
Alloxan is a strong oxidizing agent and it forms a hemiacetal with its reduced reaction product
dialuric acid (in which a carbonyl group is reduced to a hydroxyl group) which is called
alloxantin (Szkudelski, 2001) as seen in fig 1.2..
15
Blurred vision, near sightedness or other vision problems, Slow healing of sores, Skin problems,
such as itchiness, Fatigue, lethargy or drowsiness, Shakiness or trembling, Mood swings or
irritability, Dizziness or fainting.
1.9.3 Management of diabetes
In treatment of diabetes, correct diagnosis is essential. Thus emphasis should be placed on using
appropriate diagnostic criteria (Alberti, 1996). Once the diagnosis is confirmed, an attempt
should be made to classify the type of diabetes.
The major components of the treatment of diabetes include:
1. Diet (combined with exercise)
2. Oral hypoglycaemic therapy
3. Insulin treatment
Education of the person with diabetes is an essential component of management in every case.
Aim/objective of the studies
The aim is to evaluate the effect of ethanol pulp extact of date medjool on kidney and liver
parameter on alloxan induce diabetic rats.
Specific objectives of the research
To determine the acute toxicity (LD50) of the ethanol pulp extract of Date medjool.
To determine the effects of ethanol pulp extract of Date medjool on blood glucose levels
of the rats.
16
To assay the effect of ethanol pulp extract of Date medjoo on serum liver marker
enzymes.
17
CHAPTER TWO
2.1: Materials
2.1.1: Chemicals/ reagents
Some of the reagent and their manufacturer are:
Chemicals
Manufacturer
Ethanol
BDH England
Creatinine reagent
Alloxan
Randox
Sigma Aldrich germany
Gibenclamide
Sodium chloride
BDH England
Urea reagent
Randox
Ethyl actate
BDH England
Distilled water
Chloroform
Sigma
Picric acid
Lab.tech. chemical
Tween 80
2.1.2: Instrucment/equipment
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Refrigerator
One touch glucometer
Harrier thermocool
Lifescan USA
PCV tubes
Pyres, England
Haematocrit centrifuge
PCV reader
Pyres, England
Pasteur pipette
Pyrex, England
Test tubes
Pyrex, England
Pyrex England
Colorimeter
El scientific colridia
Syringes
Mono-ject china
Measuring cylinder
Pyrex England
Beaker
Pyrex England
Centrifuge
Micropipette
Perfect USA
Weighing balance
Metler HAS
Volumetric flasks
Pyrex England
Filter paper
Watchman no 1
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Evapouring dish
Pyrex England
Quijing, china
ALP Kit
Randox, UK
ALT Kit
Randox, UK
AST Kit
Randox, UK
Randox, UK
Randox, UK
Masking tap
ABRO, USA
20
2.1.4: Animals
Twenty-one (21) adult rats of both sexes weighing 100 200g were purchased and kept under
room temperature in department of animal house and were acclimatized in the new environment
for a period of two weeks with adequate feed and clean water.
2.1.5: Parameters
Glucose level
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Alkanine phosphatase (ALP)
Urea
Creatinine
2.2: Methods
2.3: Preparation of plant extracts
The dried date medjool pulp was grounded into fine powder with a grinding machine. 250g of
pulverized pulp was subjected into three different chesta bottle and 500ml of enthanol, methanol
and acetone were poured into diiferent bottle and keep for seven two hours (three days), the filter
was concentrated using rotary evaporator to obtain slurry of the extact; the semi-pastry extract
was stored in a refrigerator until when needed.
21
x 100
22
23
24
2.6.1
Principle: ALT is measured by monitoring the concentration of pyruvate hydrazone formed with
2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. The colour intensity is measured against the blank at 540nm.
Method: The blank and sample test tubes were set up in duplicates. 0.1ml of serum was pipetted
into the sample tubes. To these were added 0.5ml buffer solution containing phosphate buffer, Lalanine and -oxoglutarate. The mixtures were thoroughly mixed and incubated for exactly 30
minutes at 37 0C ml and pH 7.4. 0.5ml of reagent containing 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine was
later added to both tubes while 0.1ml of sample was added to sample blank tube. The tubes were
mixed thoroughly and incubated for exactly 20 minutes at 25
solution was then added to each tube and mixed. The absorbance was read against the blank after
5 minutes at 540nm.
2.6.2
25
x 3300
Absorbance of standard
26
of reagent 2 and reagent 3 was added and mixed and incubate for 15minutes at 37 OC. The
absorbance of the sample and standard was taken against the blank.
27
3.0
CHAPTER THREE
Administration
100
_______
300
_______
500
_______
The acute toxicity studies (LD50) of the extract of date medjool pulp showed that no animal died
in any group after receiving increase dose (between 100-500mg/kg body weight)of the aqueous
ethanol extract of date pulp.
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3.2 Effect of the ethanol pulp extract of date medjool on glucose concentration in normal,
standard, diabetic, induction and no induction rats.
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
Glucose Concentration (mg/dl)
150
GluB4Induction
GluAfterInduction
GluAfterTreatment
100
50
0
Treatment s
From the chart above it was found out that there is an increase in group 4 and group 5 and a
decrease in group 6 and group 7 but the increase and decrease was not significant (p>0.05), it
was revealed also that there is a significant decrease in group 6 (p<0.05) compared to group 2
and a decrease in group 4, group 5 and group 7 compared to group 2 but decrease was not
significant (p>0.05). There is also a significant decrease in group 6 and group 7 compared to
group 3 (p<0.05) and a decrease in group 4 and group 5 but the decrease was not significant.
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3.3 Effect of ethanol pulp extract of date medjool on ALP concentraction in normal,
standard, diabetic control and administration group.
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
ALP (IU/L)
20
10
0
Treatment Groups
From the chart above it was observed that there is a significant decrease in group 4 and group 6
(p<0.05) compared to group 1 and a decrease in group 5 and group 7 but the decrease was not
significant (p>0.05). The result also revealed that there is a significant decrease in group 4 and
group 6 (p<0.05) and a decrease in group 5 and group 7 when compared to group 2 (p<0.05) but
the decrease was not significant. There is also a significant increase (p<0.05) in group 4, group 5,
group 6 and group 7 compared to group 3.
30
3.4: Effect of ethanol pulp extract of Date medjool on AST concentration in normal,
standard, diabetic control and administration group.
160
140
120
100
80
60
AST (IU/L)
40
20
0
Treatment Groups
From the chart above it was observed that there is a significant increase in group 6 and 7 when
compared to group 1(p<0.05), and there is a significant increase in group 6 and 7 when compared
with group 2 (p<0.05). there is also a significant increase in group 6 and 7 when compared with
group 3 (p<0.05).
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3.5: Effect of ethanol pulp extract of Date medjool on ALT concentration in normal,
standard, diabetic control and administration group.
120
100
80
60
40
ALT (IU/L)
20
0
Treatment Groups
There is a decrease in group 4, 5, 7 when compared with group 1 and increase in group 6 when
compared with group 1. But the decrease and increase was not significant (p>0.05). There is a
significant increase in group 6 when compared with group 2 (p<0.05) and increase in group 4, 5
and 7 but the increase was not significant (p>0.05). There is a significant increase in group 6
compared to group 3 and increase in group 4, 5 and 7, but the increase was not significant
(p>0.05).
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3.6: Effect of ethanol pulp extract of Date medjool on urea concentration of normal,
standard, diabetic control and administration group.
250
200
150
100
Urea ()
50
0
Treatment Groups
There is a decrease in urea level of group 4, 5, 6 and 7 when compared to group 1, but the
decrease was not significant (p>0.05). a significant decrease in all administration groups when
compared to group 2 (p<0.05). There is a significant decrease in group 4, 5, 6 and 7 when
compared with group 3 (p<0.05).
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3.7 Effect of ethanol pulp extract of Date medjool on creatinine contraction of normal,
standard, diabetic control and administration group.
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
Creatinine ()
1
0.5
0
Treatment Groups
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CHAPTER FOUR
4.1: DISCUSSION
The present research was conducted to determine the effect of the ethanol pulp extract of Date
medjool on liver and kidney parameters of alloxan-induced diabetic rats, this was done by
inducing diabetes in the rats using alloxan and treating the rats with the ethanol pulp extract of
Date medjool. Consequently, the glucose level, ALP, ALT, AST, urea and creatinine were
analyzed in alloxan induced diabetic rats using acute toxicity test which shows that the plant
extract was not harmful to the animal after receiving an increase dose of 100mg/kg to 500mg/kg.
From the study, it also shows that the percentage yield of the plant contain oil, carbohydrate
sugar such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, mannose, protein, low fats, soluble fibre, it also contain
phenolic compounds and phytochemical such as flavonoid, saponin, tannin etc. Our data also
showed that treatment of diabetic rat with ethanol pulp extract of Date medjool result in marked
increase in animal body weight as well as in life span of treated rats when compared with the
untreated diabetic rats. The basis for the application of Date medjool was found in glucose level
due to high concentration of sugar compounds present.
Alloxan has been shown to produce hyperglycemia which may be due to partial or complete
destruction of the beta cells and Insulin deficiency which lead to various metabolic alterations in
the animal via increase blood glucose level (Murugan et al., 2009). Ethanol pulp extract of Date
medjool was found to reduced blood glucose level in experimental rats compared to diabetic and
35
standard rats due to the soluble fibre present in Date medjool. The extract significantly (p<0.05)
reduced the glucose concentration at both test doses compared to the untreated diabetic group,
this was compared with the experiment done by Amreen F. et al., 2012 using ethanol extract of
Andrographis paniculata which shows that blood glucose level decrease within the 2 weeks of
the administration of the extract compared to untreated diabetic rats, showing that the ethanol
pulp extract of Date medjool act as a potential anti-diabetic drug, and can be developed further in
synergy with other agent to help in the fight against diabetes (ADA 2007).
AST plays a role in the liver and other tissue by evaluating muscle and liver damage in small
and large animal. From the studies carried out it was found out that the mean value in AST after
treatment is 1.2000E2 for normal control, 1.1667E2 for standard control, 1.1300E2 for diabetic
control, 1.0867E2, 1.1667E2, 1.4667E2, and 1.4400E2 for experimental rats, this shows that
Date madjool extract was used to increase the serum AST level of experimental rats In compared
to untreated diabetic rats but has a slight decrease compared to standard and normal control, this
is similar with the experiment done by Ameen F. et al., 2012 using ethanol extract of
Andrographis paniculata which restored aspartate (AST) in diabetic rats. This also indicate that
Date medjool have an anti-diabtic activity. this is as a result of the protein content present in
these plant.
ALT is a cytoplasmic enzyme and is considered to be liver specific in small animals, its plasma
concentration increase with hepatocellular, damage/necrosis, hepatocyte proliferation or
hepatocellular degeneration. From the studies it was found out that the mean value of ALT after
treatment is 82.6667mg/dl for normal control, 74.6667mg/dl for standard control, 71.3333mg/dl
for diabetic control and 76.6667mg/dl, 71.3333mg/dl, 97.3333mg/dl and 75.0000mg/dl for
administration group, these show that there is an increase in ALT level in rats administered with
36
extract compared to standard and diabetic group, as seen in experiment done by Amreen F. et
al., 2012 using ethanol extract of Andrographis paniculata which have an anti-diabetic
properties and it restore ALT level in diabetic rats, this show that date medjool ethanol extract
have an anti-diabetics activity.
ALP is an enzyme which catalyzes the hydrolysis of a phosphate group from an organic
molecule at an alkaline PH, It also plays a role in detoxification of endotoxin. From the studies
carried out the mean value of ALP after treatment was found to be 71.000mg/dl for normal
control, 77.0000mg/dl for standard control, 29.000omg/dl for diabetic control, 52.6667mg/dl,
63.3333mg/dl, 69.3333mg/dl and 60.0476mg/dl for the administration group (100mg/kg,
300mg/kg and 500mg/kg) from the data it was revealed that there is an increase in ALP level in
experimental group compared to diabetic control and this is compared to experiment done using
ethanol extract of Andrographis paniculata in diabetic rats by Amreen F. et al., 2012 which
indicate the restoration ALP level in diabetes, of which shows that Date medjool ethanol pulp
extract have anti-diabetic properties.
The study of the effect of ethanol extract pulp extract of Date medjool under low and high doses
were important in order to have more data for human risk assessment. The kidney and body
weight had a significant decrease with treated rat in high and low doses compared to untreated
rat. With respect to biochemical parameter on treated rats there is significant decrease in urea
level and creatinine level of experimental rats compared to untreated diabetic control group and
this decrease in urea and creatinine level in diabetic control group might be due to low protein
content in date which may lead to low urea and creatinine level in blood, this is compared with
the experiment done by Amreen F.et al., 2012 in diabetic rats using aqueous extract of Aegle
marmelos indicating the reduction of blood sugar, urea and creatinine. This suggest that ethanol
37
pulp extract is a good source of anti-diabetic drug and also reduce the liver disease by increasing
the liver enzyme which are need for the breakdown of toxic substances in the liver.
4.2: Conclusion
The ethanol pulp extract of Date medjool has been revealed from this study that they have an
increasing and decreasing effect in biochemical parameter of liver and kidney and also reduce
blood glucose level in diabetic rats, this suggests that this plant can be of great help in
biochemical system and can therefore be developed possibly in synergy with other agent to help
in the fight against diabetes.
4.3: Suggestion for further studies
Ethanol pulp extract of Date medjool has been found out in this study to have an increase effect
liver parameter and decrease effect in kidney and blood glucose, so I suggest that further studies
should be carried out on the plant extract to know the effect in lipid peroxidation and oxidative
stress in rats.