Effects of the ethanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia L. roots on pancreatic histopathological changes of diabetic mice

Abstract

Diabetes (diabetes mellitus), one of the dangerous diseases, is directly related to the activity of the pancreas. The histopathological structure of the pancreas in diabetic mice provide the basic information of the histology of pancreas from diabetic mice. The anti-diabetic potential of ethanolic extract of roots of Morinda citrifolia was evaluated. The results demonstrated that the ethanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia roots could reduce the high blood glucose in diabetic mice after 20 days of treatment. The microscopic structure of pancreatic general histology and pancreatic exocrine of the normal, diabetic mice and mice treated with the root extract were different. Pancreatic endocrine structure changed in diabetic mice induced with alloxan monohydrate comparing to normal mice. However, extract of Morinda citrifolia root could not improve pancreatic endocrine structure of diabetic mice.