Protective Effect of Pelargonium graveolens Essential Oil Against Alloxan-Induced Diabetes and Oxidative Stress in Rats

Abstract

Oxidative stress occurs in diabetic patients and experimental models of diabetes. The antioxidant property of Pelargonium graveolens essential oil (PGEO) might have a beneficial effect in ameliorating the disease. In this context, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of PGEO on oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. The antidiabetic and antioxidant activities were evaluated after sub-acute intraperitoneal injection of male rats to 42.5 mg/kg b.w. essential oil for 21 days. In results, we found that PGEO significantly protected against the increase of blood glucose induced by alloxan treatment. In addition, we showed that sub-acute essential oil treatment induced a decrease of lipoperoxydation, as well as, the induction of antioxidant enzyme activities. The use of GC-MS technique revealed the identification of many compounds in PGEO with (R)-citronellol (31.61%) as the main compound. The protective effect of PGEO is mainly attributed to antioxidant property.