Role of spices in mitigating diabetic complications: A study on streptozotocinnicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetes in rats

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a very common metabolic disorder characterized by complications which affect multiple organs, including the liver and kidneys. The present investigation aimed to examine how extracts from black cumin, fenugreek, garlic, and their combination, regulate blood glucose levels, liver and kidney enzymes, and tissue alterations in rats with type 2 diabetes induced by streptozotocinnicotinamide. Male Wistar rats were split into six different groups: A normal control group, a diabetic control group, and four different groups treated with extracts from black cumin, fenugreek, garlic, and a combination thereof. Rats with diabetes showed noticeable decreases in body weight, polyphagia, polydipsia, increased blood glucose levels along with raised levels of liver and kidney-specific enzymes, and noticeable histopathological lesions. Administration of spice extracts, notably black cumin, reduced elevated glucose levels, lowered liver and kidney enzyme concentrations, and improved microscopic lesions compared to other spices in treated rats. These findings suggest potential therapeutic benefits of these spices in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associated complications involving the liver and kidneys.