Consumption of the Syrian mesquite plant (Prosopis farcta) fruit and seed lyophilized extracts may have both protective and toxic effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

The aim of study was to investigate the antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of extracts obtained from dried Prosopis farcta fruit and seeds against streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. According to the results, glucose, haemoglobin A1c, α-glycosidase activity, liver and kidney damage biomarkers, and malondialdehyde contents of all of the diabetic groups were found to have increased significantly according to the control group. Furthermore, the insulin and C-peptide secretions increased, and liver malondialdehyde level decreased, which were determined as the result of fluctuations in the antioxidant enzyme activities with a dose of 400 mg/kg fruit extract, while seed extract dosages of 100 and 400 mg/kg caused an increase in hepatic demage biomarkers. It was concluded that fruit extract may have insulin secretion stimulating and lipid peroxidation inhibitory effects, whereas seed extract might have caused hepatocyte damage changes to the transport functions and membrane permeability of these cells, thus causing enzymes to leak.