Potential of Gnetum gnemon L. Seed Extract Against Insulin Levels and PDX-1 Expression in Diabetes Mellitus Rats Model

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a condition in which blood glucose levels rise as a result of reduced insulin secretion. DM caused complications such as retinopathy, angiopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon L.) seeds are high in polyphenols and flavonoids, and also have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. The aim of this study was to examine Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon L.) Seed Extract (MSE) activity in DM rat model. The MSE (200, 400, 600 mg/kg BW) administered orally for 21 days on DM rats. Levels of serum glucose was measured using colorimetry method and serum insulin was measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Density of Langerhans islet was measured using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining method and PDX-1 expression was measured using immunohistochemistry method. After treatment, it showed that giving MSE 600 mg/kg BW could reduce serum glucose levels from 372.22 to 273.70 mg/dL and increase insulin levels from 68.81 to 253.11 μIU/mL. The density of Langerhans islet cells increased from 54.36 to 64.15 cells/10
⁴
μm
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and PDX-1 expression in Langerhans islet increased from 73.49 to 114.80. Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon L.) seed extract has antidiabetic activities through improving glucose and insulin levels, increase Langerhans cells density, and Langerhans PDX-1 expression.