Galley Proof 24/01/2009; 11:02 File: bio1040.tex; BOKCTP/sx p. 1 BioFactors 33 (2009) 1–12 1 DOI 10.3233/BIO-2009-1040 IOS Press Therapeutic effect of phytoecdysteroids rich extract from Ajuga iva on alloxan induced diabetic rats liver, kidney and pancreas Khaled Hamden a,∗ , Fatma Ayadi b , Kamel Jamoussi b , Hatem Masmoudi c and Abdelfattah Elfeki a a Animal Ecophysiology, Faculty of Sciences, Sfax, Tunisia b Biochemistry laboratory, CHU Habib Bourguiba, Sfax, Tunisia c Immunology laboratory, CHU Habib Bourguiba, Sfax, Tunisia Received 4 Septmber 2008 Accepted 23 October 2008 Abstract. In the current study, the effect of Ajuga iva extract on blood glucose, lipid profile, hepatic and renal toxicity and antioxidant enzyme activities in alloxan-induced diabetic rats was investigated. Diabetes was confirmed by measuring the glucoserua concentration 15 days after alloxan administration. Ajuga iva extract was administrated orally 3 weeks after alloxan injection. Our results investigate that Ajuga iva extract supplementation increased the levels of both enzymatic antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, catalase and gluthation peroxidase) and metals antioxidants (iron, copper, magnesium, calcuim) and decreased lipid peroxidation level (TBARs). Besides Ajuga iva ameliorated diabetes provoked hepatic and renal toxicity appeared by a lower level in total and direct bilirubin, urea, creatinine, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol and a higher level in HDL-cholesterol. Besides, the activities of phosphatase alkalines (PAL), aspartate and lactate transaminase (AST & ALT) were decreased. The benefices effects of phytoecdysteroids of Ajuga iva confirmed by histological observation in pancreatic tissues. In conclusion, Ajuga iva phytoecdysteroids supplements seem to be beneficial for correcting the hyperglycemia and preventing diabetic complications in liver, pancreas and kidneys. Keywords: Ajuva iva, diabetes, toxicity, liver & kidney, histological changes, therapeutic & preventive effects 1. Introduction Diabetes mellitus, a major endocrine disorder and a growing health problem in most countries, is now emerging as a deadly disease. Three quarters of the world’s 400 million adults with diabetes are in western countries and the disease is gradually becoming prevalent in developing countries, too [26]. Hyperglycemia leads to long-term complications of diabetes, which are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in human populations [26]. Increased free radical generation and oxidative stress are hypothesized to play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its late complications [43]. * Address for correspondence: Dr Khaled Hamden, Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiology, Faculty of Sciences, PB 802, 3018, Sfax; University of Sfax, Tunisia. Tel.: +216 97 469 111; Fax: +216 74 274 437; E-mail: khaled.hamden@yahoo.fr/ khalid.hamden@gmail.com. 0951-6433/09/$17.00  2009 – IUBMB/IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved