الفهرس 
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Abstract
Diabetes mellitus refers to the group of diseases that lead to high blood glucose levels due to defects in either insulin secretion or insulin action in the body. chronic hyperglycemia is associated with significant long term complications including damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs especially the kidney, eye, and nerves and associated with markedly increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. When the liver is diseased each of its functions is limited, but the extent differs with the various forms of disease. The liver has a wide range of functions, including detoxification of various metabolites, protein synthesis, and the production of biochemical necessary for digestion. The liver’s immune functions are mostly carried out by the Kupffer cells. The major functions of these cells include absorption and destruction. Kupffer cells also help modulate or regulate immune response via production of substances such as gamma globulin. Fruits and vegetables contain nutrients, especially vitamins and minerals, and non - nutritive constituents as fiber and phenolic compounds which have been implicated in conferring biological and beneficial health effects, so they are used to treat diseases. The tested plant in this investigation is Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill, commonly called prickly pear, belongs to the dicotyledonous angiosperm Cactaceae family. O. ficus indica is a tropical and subtropical plant and may be considered a functional food; this feature has been attributed to its bioactive compounds such as vitamin C and vitamin E, polyphenols, carotenoids, flavonoid compounds and pigments. Prickly pear peels as a powder and extract was selected to study their effects against diabetes status and liver disorders.
The rats were divided into 11 groups (4 rats each), all groups were fed for 28 days as follows:
• Group (1): Normal rats fed on basal diet only, as a control negative (-ve) group for both diseases (healthy rats).
• Group (2): Diabetic rats fed on basal diet only as a control (+ve) for diabetic rats.
• Group (3): Diabetic rats fed on basal diet containing 3 % dried PPPs.
• Group (4): Diabetic rats fed on basal diet containing 6% dried PPPs.
• Group (5): Diabetic rats administrated with extract of PPPs at a dose of 300 mg /kg B.W. orally.
• Group (6): Diabetic rats administrated with extract of PPPs at a dose of 600 mg /kg B.W. orally.
• Group (7): Hepatitis rats fed on basal diet only as a control (+ve) for hepatotoxicity rats.
• Group (8): Hepatitis rats fed on basal diet containing 3 % dried PPPs.
• Group (9): Hepatitis rats fed on basal diet containing 6 % dried PPPs.
• Group (10): Hepatitis rats administrated with extract of PPPs at a dose of 300 mg /kg B.W. orally.
• Group (11): Hepatitis rats administrated with extract of PPPs at a dose of 600 mg /kg B.W. orally.
At the end of experiment (4 weeks), the blood samples were collected after 12 hours fasting and serum separated for determination of: ENGLISH
lipid profile including cholesterol, tri-glycride (T.G), high density lipoprotein (HDL.c), low density lipoprotein (LDLc), very low density lipoprotein (VLDLc), Atherogenic index, urea, creatinine, uric acid, glucose, albumin, globulin, total protein, albumin/globulin ratio, serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST ALT/AST and ALP), GPX, SOD, MDA and CAT.
At the same time, the organs heart, liver, kidney, spleen and pancreas were removed washed in saline solution, dried by filter paper, weighted, and stored frozen in formalin solution 10% for histopathological examinations.
Statistical analysis:
The data were statistically analyzed using a computerized costat program by one way ANOVA. The results are presented as Mean ± SD; differences between treatments at (P<0.05) were considered significant.
Results of the present study revealed the following:
1. Analysis of phenolic compounds revealed that the prickly pear peels (PPPs) had the highest phenols level (2609.91 ppm), the highest content was recorded for Pyrogallol (43.15% of total), followed by ellagic (20.04 % of total), Epicatechen (12.71 % of total) and p.oh.Bnzoic (7.88 % of total). Possibly, other affecting antioxidant compounds are vitamins C, A & E as well as the total antioxidation level was not determined.
2. Relative weights of internal organs were raised for diabetic than the normal rats, but with (PPPs) powder and extract hypertrophy of organs cured and ROW decreased sometimes to less level than that recorded for the normal control (-) rats. Best treatment showing maximum decrease of ROW recorded for 6% dried PPPs diet group.
3. Hyperglycemia lowered the BWG, FI & FER which were recovered by feeding on prickly pear peels (PPPs) powder and extract. Maximum improvement recorded for 6% dried PPPs diet group.
4. Hyperglycemia raised the serum levels of creatinine, urea and uric acid which were reversed when inflicted rats fed on (PPPs) powder and extract. Best selected group was that of 6% dried PPPs diet group.
5. Alloxan injection raised appreciably the serum glucose. Meanwhile feeding of diabetic rats on (PPPs) powder and extract lowered the serum glucose ; selected best group (6% dried PPPs) reduced the serum glucose to a less level than that recorded for the control (-) rats.
6. Diabetes mellitus raised considerably the AST, ALT, ALP enzymes an well as the AST/ ALT, ratio, while the reverse recorded when inflicted rats fed on diets containing dried PPPs and extract; in particular the 6% dried PPPs diet seems to be a potent agent correcting the function of liver.
7. Diabetes mellitus lowered the levels of total protein (T.P), albumin (Alb) and albumin/globulin (Alb/Glb), while raised the level of globulin (Glb) the reverse occurred when hyperglycemic rats fed on (PPPs) powder and extract. Maximum improvement however, indicated when rats fed on the 6% dried PPPs diet.
8. Alloxan injection raised the levels of serum in T.C & T.G while feeding on (PPPs) powder and extract reversed such changes. Best diet recorded for the 6% dried PPPs diet.
9. Inflicting of rats with diabetes mellitus lowered serum HDL, while raised LDL, VLDL and the AI. On the contrary feeding of rats on diets containing (PPPs) powder and extract reversed such changes. Best diet recorded for the 6% dried PPPs, this also recorded for maximum decrease of VLDL, LDL & AI.
10. Diabetes mellitus resulted in lowered the activities of antioxidant enzymes of serum being SOD, GPX, and CAT & raised MDA. Feeding on (PPPs) powder and extract correcting such changes. The best group was that of the 6% dried PPPs diet for SOD, GPX, and CAT & MDA.
11. Hepatointoxication lowered the daily BWG of rats from 0.78 ± 0.089 to 0.08 ± 0.015g. (PPPs) powder and extract raised the BWG with significant difference between them. Meanwhile, supplemented rats with (PPPs) extract (600mg/kg) were showing BWG of 0.88 ± 0.017g, also showed the highest increases in FER as compared to all intoxicated groups, which reached to 0.029 ± 0.001.
12. It was found that hepatitis raised the relative weight of liver, kidneys, spleen, heart and pancreas indicating hypertrophy due to inflammation. Meanwhile feeding on (PPPs) powder and extract reversed such changes leading to atrophy and decrease of relative weighty. Best treatment showed less relative weights seems to be supplementing with (PPPs) extract (600mg/kg) caused the most pronounced effect correcting the relative weight of the internal organs.
13. Hepatointoxication affected the renal function leading to increase of creatinine, urea & uric acid in serum, while the reverse was found when inflicted rats fed on (PPPs) powder and extract. Maximum improvement recorded for rats supplemented with (PPPs) extract (600mg/kg), which for creatinine and uric acid the levels were even less than the values determined for healthy rats.
14. Hepatointoxication raised the activities of liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and AST/ ALT). With (PPPs) powder and extract; the reverse was noticed. Best treatment seems to be that of (PPPs) extract (600mg/kg) showing lowest activities of mentioned enzymes.
15. Hepatointoxication caused disorders in the serum lipids fractions leading to the increase of TC, TG, VLDL, LDL and AI, while HDL was decreased. On the contrary feeding rats on (PPPs) powder and extract reversed these changes.
16. Best prickly pear peels treatment for TC, TG, VLDL, HDL, LDL and AI was the extract 600mg/kg; this indicated the value of prickly pear peels for amelioration of hepatointoxication side effects considering the serum lipids fractions.
17. Hepatointoxication lowered significantly the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPX & MDA), while feeding on diet containing (PPPs) powder and extract reversed such changes. Best treatment showing highest activities recorded for the supplemented extract 600mg/kg.
18. Histopathological changes of diabetic and hepatic rats, considering (liver, pancreas, kidneys and heart) confirmed the biological and biochemical changes, indicating the undoubted value of prickly pear peels for both ailments either for curing or as adjunct to reduce doses of drugs.