COMPARATIVE ANTIHYPERGLYCAEMIC ACTIVITIES OF CAMEL AND SHEEP SKIMMED MILK IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED HYPERGLYCAEMIC RATS

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia. This study investigated
and compared the effects of camel and sheep skimmed milk administration in alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic rats.
Forty two male albino rats were divided into 7 groups of 6 rats in each group. Group 1 and 2 were normal control
and hyperglycaemic control rats, respectively. Group 3 and 4 were hyperglycaemic rats fed with 50% and 100%
camel skimmed respectively, while group 5 and 6 were fed with 50% and 100% sheep skimmed milk respectively.
Group 7 were hyperglycaemic rats injected with glibenclamide (GLB). Body weights of rats were measured at
weekly for three consecutive weeks. The animals were sacrificed; blood samples were used for estimation of blood
glucose level whereas the supernatant obtained from liver tissue were used for measurement of ALT, AST, and
ALP. Present data indicated that administration of camel and sheep skimmed milk to hyperglycaemic rats restored
(P<0.05) blood glucose level compared to hyperglycaemic control. In addition, hyperglycaemic rats had significant
(P<0.05) reduction in body weight and increase in hepatic enzymes activity compared to normal control.
Interestingly, feeding of hyperglycaemic rats with camel and sheep skimmed milk significantly (P<0.05) reversed
the body weight loss and decreased the activity of AST, ALT and ALP when compared with untreated
hyperglycaemic control. Furthermore, feeding of camel and sheep skimmed milk to hyperglycaemic rats prevents
alteration in liver tissue when compared to hyperglycaemic control. In conclusion, the result demonstrated that
camel and sheep skimmed milk possess antihyperglycaemic activity in alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic rats.