Protective Effects of the Phenolic-rich Fraction of Young Corn Silk (Zea mays L.) against Pancreatic Islet Destruction in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

The phytochemical and bioactive characteristics of plants are influenced by their species and varieties. However, not much is known about the ability of baby corn silk in repairing pancreatic damage. In this study, we investigate the protective effects of the phenolic-rich fraction of vegetable variety baby corn silk (PRFsilk) on the pancreas of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty rats were divided into five groups, where Group ۱ comprised six nondiabetic control rats; Group ۲ was diabetic control; Groups ۳ and ۴ were diabetic rats treated with ۱۰۰ and ۲۰۰ mg/kg/day of PRFsilk, respectively; and Group ۵ served as diabetic treatment control with ۱۵۰ mg/kg/day of metformin. After ۲۸ days of administrating PRFsilk, diabetic rats in Groups ۳ and ۴ had their blood glucose levels significantly lowered by ۶۷.۴۵% and ۶۶.۸۵%, respectively, compared with the diabetic control group, with more insulin detected in their pancreatic homogenates through ELISA assay. The histological assessment found signs of damage and atrophy in the islet cells of all diabetic rats, with the worst observed in the diabetic control group. However, the islets of PRFsilk-treated rats had little damage caused by STZ induction compared with the pancreas of metformin-treated rats, particularly in Group ۳, which was treated with a lower PRFsilk dose. This showed that the PRF of baby corn silk could ameliorate STZ-induced pancreatic damage in rats, most likely through its anti-oxidative and immune-boosting properties.

Keywords:

Corn silk , Phenolic fraction , PANCREAS , Histology , Diabetic rats