The current research examines the effects of administration of 150 and 250 mg/kg body weight/day of ethanolic Ferula assa-foetida L. oleo gum resin extract (FAE) for 42 days in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. On day 42, all rats were euthanized; HOMA-β, HOMA-IR, and QUICKI levels in pancreas were examined histopathologically and ultrastructurally . Low-dose FAE (150 mg/kg) treatment resulted in significant improvement in serum glucose, insulin and superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase levels (p < .05). It also improved β-cell function, restored pancreatic β-cells, and reduced insulin resistance compared to the diabetic control rats. Necrotic and degenerative alterations in the islets, pyknotic β-cell nuclei, β-cell degranulation, reduced islet cellular density, and significant vacuolation were found in the islets of STZ-diabetic control group ratsby the histomorphological and ultrastructural examination. The pancreatic histomorphology of low dose of FAE-treated diabetic rats showed remarkable improvements in the islets, such as the β-cell number and the area of the pancreatic islets.

Practical applications

The experiment revealed that Ferula assa-foetida L. may exert antihyperglycemic activity in STZ diabetes via β-cell regeneration and its high antioxidant capacity. This work elucidates the role of Ferula assa-foetida L. in diabetes management. Ferula assa-foetida L. gum extract improved the morphological changes of the diabetic pancreas and stimulated the regeneration of the β cells. The findings demonstrated positive results for the long-term cure of diabetes. Additionally, this study showed the potential of isolating nutraceuticals for the development of medications.