RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, the effect of aqueous anise extract on the pancreatic damage in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model with referral to some of its underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male albino rats were divided equally into four groups; control, anise extract treated (500 mg/kg orally once daily), diabetic control group (STZ 50 mg/kg once intraperitoneally) and diabetic group treated with anise extract. At the end of experiment (7 weeks), body weight, blood glucose and serum amylase levels were assessed. Pancreatic tissues were subjected to biochemical, histological (light and electron microscopic), and immunohistochemical studies. RESULTS: The diabetic group exhibited significant decrease in body weight and increase in blood glucose and serum amylase levels. Marked degenerative changes affecting both b-cells and acinar cells of the pancreas in the form of a significant decrease in islet's perimeter, vacuolated cytoplasm, pyknotic nuclei, depletion of zymogen granules, dilated congested blood vessels and degenerated organelles were reported. Hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress with subsequent upregulation of caspase 3 and beclin 1 immunoreaction were suggested to be implicated in diabetes mellitus pathogenesis. Anise extract ameliorated the all examined parameters via its hypoglycaemic and antioxidant properties with subsequent downregulation of apoptosis and autophagy. CONCLUSIONS: Anise extract can be a promising agent in the control of diabetes mellitus for further clinical trials.