Potential antioxidant properties and anti-diabetic and hepatic/pancreatic protective effects of dietary Boswellia serrata gum resin powder against oxidative damage in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats

The present study was designed to explore the potential antidiabetic and antioxidant capacity and hepatic/pancreatic protective effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin (BSGR) powder against streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ). Forty rats were randomly allocated into four groups of ten each: group 1 served as a control and received a normal rat diet (ND-0); group 2 received diet containing 2% of Boswellia serrata gum resin powder (ND-BSGR); group 3 diabetic control received a diet containing 2% of BSGR powder (D-0), and group IV diabetic rats received a diet containing 2% of BSGR powder (D-BSGR). After 28 days of treatment, serum, pancreas, and liver were used to evaluate various parameter changes. Streptozotocin administration caused metabolic disorder which led to an increase in serum levels of plasma glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol (TC), and lipase and a decrease in α-amylase and insulin levels. In addition, exposure of rats to streptozotocin induced alteration in the antioxidant status as indicated by the reduction of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. However, the incorporation of BSGR powder into the diet of diabetic rats restored all biological parameters studied. Thus, the present investigation revealed the antidiabetic actions and the antioxidant capacity of Boswellia serrata gum resin powder and its ability to ameliorate liver and pancreas functions in diabetic rats.