Histopancreatic Architecture in Diabetes Mellitus Wistar rats Treated with Extract of Beetroot

This study assessed the effects of Aqueous Beetroot extract on the pancreas of diabetes mellitus Wistar rats by evaluating histo-architecture. Thirty male Wistar rats, aged 8 to 10 weeks and weighing 160-200 g, were divided into five groups: A-normal control, B-diabetic only, C-diabetic treated with beetroot, D-diabetic treated with metformin, and E-beetroot extract only. Diabetes was induced via a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 70 mg/kg. After 72 hours of diabetes, the rats received aqueous beetroot and Metformin (500mg/kg and 100 mg/kg bodyweight respectively) orally, daily for four weeks. Body weight and blood glucose levels were measured weekly, and at the end of the treatment, relative pancreas weight and histological evaluations were performed. Results indicated significant differences (p<0.05) in body weight, blood glucose levels, and relative pancreas weight between the diabetic+beetroot and diabetic+metformin groups compared to the diabetic group. Histological findings revealed normal pancreatic histoarchitecture with numerous islet cells in the normal control and beetroot-only groups, while the diabetic group showed reduced islet cell mass. The diabetic+beetroot and diabetic+metformin groups exhibited minimal damage. The normal control and beetroot-only groups had normal reactions to Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), while the diabetic control group showed positive results. Some PAS positivity was noted in the diabetic+beetroot and diabetic+metformin groups. Overall, aqueous beetroot extract demonstrated protective effects on pancreatic health, mitigating the damage induced by diabetes mellitus.