The effect of bee and/or palm pollen aqueous suspensions against anemia and thyroid disturbances in diabetic rats was studied. Streptozotocin was administered as a single dose (40 mg/kg b.w.) to induce diabetes. Aqueous suspensions of bee and/or palm pollen (100 mg/kg b.w.) were orally administered to diabetic rats for 28 days. Observations showed that bee and/or palm pollen have a protective effect on the hematopoietic system as manifested by a positive increase in RBC, Hb content, Hct value, WBC, platelet counts, ferritin and iron levels in the diabetic rats. The aqueous suspension of bee pollen alone or together with palm pollen improved the reduction in total protein, albumin, calcium levels and the increment in billirubin. Also, both aqueous suspensions have curative effect against disturbances in the oxidant/antioxidant balance in diabetic rats. Bee pollen suspension is more effective than palm pollen in the improvement of thyroid alterations. Palm pollen suspension alone has a protective effect against the lipid profile changes in diabetic rats. The present results suggest that both bee and palm pollen contain potent antioxidant and hypolipidemic agents capable of reversing alterations associated with the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus and can be used for diabetic complications treatment.
Key words: Bee pollen, palm pollen, diabetes mellitus, hematology, thyroid, rats.
|
