Attenuation of inflammation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rabbits by Matricaria chamomilla oil: A focus on targeting NF-κB and NLRP3 signaling pathways

Objectives: The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of chamomile oil from Matricaria chamomilla against type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and its potential mechanisms. Methods: T1DM was established in male New Zealand white rabbits via a single intraperitoneal infusion of streptozotocin (STZ) (80 mg/kg body weight(-1), dissolved in 0.2 mL of normal saline). Different doses of chamomile oil (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) were orally administrated to STZ induced diabetic rabbits for 21 consecutive days. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was determined using ELISA assay. The expression of NF-kappa B and NLRP3 was measured using Western blot assay. Results: Compared with normal rabbits, STZ-induced diabetic rabbits exhibited significant increased levels of blood glucose and decreased levels of serum insulin that were reversed using middle and high tested dose of chamomile oil. Likewise, STZ-induced diabetic rabbits showed a significant increased expression of NF-kappa B and NLRP3 proteins in the pancreas tissue that was reversed by high tested dose of chamomile oil. Conclusion: Collectively, our findings demonstrated that chamomile oil possesses anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-inflammatory activities in STZ-induced diabetic rabbits by targeting inflammatory cytokines and NF-kappa B and NLRP3 signaling pathways. (C) 2019 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines. Published by Elsevier B.V.