A comparative study of the histopathological modifications of adrenal gland in STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rats administered with selected herbal plants versus Glimepiride

This study investigated the comparative study of four herbal extract versus Glimepiride on the histomorphological modification of adrenal gland in STZ induced diabetic rats with a view to understanding their antidiabetic properties.  Forty- two healthy adult Wistar rats (Rattus novergicus) with an average weight of 153.4 g were randomly divided into seven groups (n=6). STZ (65 mg/kg) dissolved in citrate buffer was administered intraperitoneally to animals in groups B to G while animals in group A received equivalent volume of citrate buffer. Plant extracts (100 mg/kg) were administered daily (orally) to animals in groups C to F and glimepiride (anti-diabetic drug) to animals in group G for 14 days. After the expiration of the study, the animals were sacrificed and the adrenal gland was excised, fixed in 10% formol saline for histology and morphometric analysis. Result showed that body weights of diabetic rats significantly decreased when compared with control and other groups. Also, adrenal weight, and thickness of the cortex were significantly increased (P<0.05) in diabetic rats compared with control and other groups. Also, thickness in medulla of adrenal gland of group B was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) when compared with control and other groups. The histology and morphometric analysis revealed that the adrenal gland in the group treated with Citrullus lanatus seed shaft showed a better histoarchitectural outline of all the four plant extracts used. This study suggested that C. lanatus seed shaft could be a better alternative therapy in ameliorating diabetic-associated disorders of the adrenal gland. Key words: Diabetes, Psidium guajava, Veronia amygdalina, Ficus mucuso, Citrullus colocynthis, adrenal gland.