الفهرس 
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Abstract
Seventy five apparently healthy male albino rats were divided into five equal groups (n= 15). Only four groups, namely diabetic positive control group, metformin-treated group, ginseng 250mg-treated group and ginseng 500mg-treated group were injected with alloxan by I/P route at a dose level of 100mg/kg B.Wt. for induction of diabetes, fasting serum glucose level was estimated using digital glucometer to insure induction of diabetes (rats with fasting serum glucose level above 200 mg/dl were kept as diabetic). While the remaining group (15 rats) were kept as a control group.
Diabetic positive control group and negative control group were left without any treatment during the period of the experiment, while metformin-treated group was intubated with daily oral dose of 300mg/kg B.Wt. of metformin using stomach tube after dissolving of the drug in water. Ginseng-treated groups were intubated with ginseng extract at dose levels of 250 and 500 mg/kg B.Wt. respectively using stomach tube. Five rats from each group were sacrificed after 4th and 8th week of the starting of the treatment and the remaining rats of each group were sacrificed 2 weeks post-stoppage of the treatment regimes.
Blood samples were obtained from retro-orbital venous plexus using hematocrite tube for evaluation of hemograme and serum biochemical analysis. Small pieces of pancreas, liver, kidney and heart were quickly collected and fixed in neutral buffered formalin for histopathological examination. Urine samples were obtained and examined chemically and microscopically.
All the tested groups showed normocytic normochromic anemia compared to control group at 4th week and two weeks post-stoppage of the treatment but this anemia was recorded in untreated diabetic group only at 8th week. As metformin and both of ginseng-treated groups showed a significant increase in RBCs count, PCV% and Hb concentration at 8th week of the experiment.
Leukopenia due to lymphopenia were recorded in all the tested groups compared to control group at 4th and 8th week of the experiment with a significant decrease in granulocytic count at 8th week only. Treatment with metformin and ginseng at both doses tend to increase leukocytes and lymphocytes counts towards normal control values at 8th week. Monocytopenia which noticed in all the treated groups at 8th week of the experiment was significantly corrected upon treatment with metformin only. Only lymphocytic count recorded a significant decrease in metformin and both of ginseng-treated groups two weeks post-stoppage of the treatment. While other leukocytic counts (granulocytes and monocyes) showed non-significant changes. Platelets count did not record any significant changes at any point of the experiment.
Serum level of glucose with blood level of glycosylated hemoglobin provoked a significant increase in untreated diabetic group compared to control group at 4th, 8th and two weeks post-stoppage of the treatment, but the treatment with metformin and ginseng (at both doses) tend to decrease their levels at the above mentioned periods. Metformin was more effective than ginseng except at 10th week of the experiment.
The serum activities of AST, ALT, ALP and GGT besides the serum level of urea, creatinine and uric acid showed a significant increase in untreated diabetic group compared to control group at 4th, 8th weeks and two weeks post-stoppage of the treatment. Meanwhile, administration of metformin and ginseng at both doses caused a significant decrease in these parameters compared to untreated diabetic group at the previously mentioned periods.
The serum level of total proteins and albumin showed a significant decrease in untreated diabetic group compared to control group at 4th, 8th and 10th week of the experiment. Metformin-treated group and ginseng 500 mg-treated group recorded a significant increase in serum total protein and albumin at 4th and 8th weeks only. Metformin-treated group showed a significant increase in serum globulin level at 4th week.
Serum levels of TG, VLDL, TC and LDL recorded a significant increase in untreated diabetic group compared to control group at 8th week of the experiment and two weeks post-stoppgae of the treatment. But the treatment with metformin and ginseng both doses tend to ameliorate these changes. Treatment with ginseng showed more hypolipidemic effect than metformin at each point of the experiment.
Serum and hepatic activities of G6PDH and CAT enzymes with level of GSH recorded a significant decrease in untreated diabetic group compared to control groups at 8th week and two weeks post-stoppgae of the treatment. While, MDA level was significantly increased in this group compared to control group at the same periods. But metformin and ginseng 500 mg-treated groups recorded a significant decrease in serum and hepatic level of MDA at 8th week of the experiment.
Chemical examination of urine sample obtained from diabetic untreated rats at 4th, 8th week of the experiment and two weeks post-stoppage of the treatment revealed the presence of glucose and protein with a significant increase in specific gravity in addition to a significant decrease in urine pH. Meanwhile, these parameters were changed toward normal control values upon treatment with metformin and ginseng (both doses) at the above mentioned periods. Microscopical examination of urine samples revealed the presence of transitional epithelial cells in urine of diabetic untreated rats, metformin-treated rats at both 4th and 8th week and in urine of ginseng 250mg-treated group at 8th week with the presence of calcium oxalate dihydrate crystals in urine of untreated diabetic rats group at 4th and 8th week of the experiment and its presence in urine of metformin-treated rats at 8th week. In addition, triple phosphate crystals was noticed in urine of untreated diabetic rats at 4th and 8th week, both of ginseng-treated groups at 8th week and in urine of metformin-treated group at 4th week of the experiment.
Microscopical examination of pancreas of diabetic untreated group at 4th and 8th week of the experiment revealed presence of congestion of blood vessels and severe vacuolation of beta cells in addition to pancreatic necrosis at 8th week and two weeks post-stoppage of the treatment, these lesions were ameliorated upon treatment with ginseng and metformin, while immunohistochemical results proved this ameliorative effect.
Liver lesions of untreated diabetic rats groups at 4th, 8th week of experiment and two weeks post-stoppage of the treatment were in form of vacuolation and hypereosinophelia of hepatocytes, congestion of blood vessels, hepatic necrosis and hemorrhage, but these lesions were in less severe form in metformin and both of ginseng-treated groups.
Cardiac lesions of diabetic untreated group rats at 4th, 8th week of experiment and two weeks post-stoppage of the treatment could be concluded in presence of congestion of blood vessels, hyalinization of cardiomyocytes, necrosis and hemorrhage, while metformin and ginseng-treated groups showed less severe form these lesions.
Kidney of diabetic untreated group two weeks post-stoppage of the treatment showed presence of congestion of blood vessels, vacuolation of tubular, presence of interstitial edema, interstitial inflammatory cells infiltration and renal tubular necrosis upon histopathological examination, but metformin and ginseng provoked an ameliorative effect on occurrence of these lesions in groups treated with them.