Abstract

Phoenix dactylifera. L. (date palm) is one of the main fruits in North of Africa and Middle East. The date seeds are considered as wastes despite of their medicinal properties. Different seed preparations are used as expectorant, anti-diarrheic, hypoglycemic, tonic, and aphrodisiac agents. We established the anti-diabetic and anti- lipidemic activities of methanolic extracts of date seed in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Animals were divided in to 6 groups (each group contained six animals), comprising of control group and diabetic rats. Animals were treated with different amounts of extract. To assess the hypolipidemic, and anti-hyperglycemic activity, cholesterol serum levels, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), creatinine, urea and alkaline phosphatase were measured in serum of the treated animals. The anti-diabetic potential was investigated through the levels of glucose and body weight. Moreover, to assess the extract's safety, acute toxicity test was performed. In comparison with control group, significant reductions were observed in LDL, cholesterol, as well as blood glucose levels in diabetic rats that received date seed extract. Extract supplemented diabetic rats also showed a better tolerance to glucose, as well as reduced amounts of creatinine, urea, and alkaline phosphatase in their serum samples. In addition, no toxicity (acute toxicity), was detected even after high dosage of extract administration. Our results confirmed the anti-lipidemic and anti-diabetic potentials of date seed methanolic extract in diabetic rats.