The preventive role of aqueous extract of Coriander on optic nerve lesion in diabetic balb/c mice

Coriandrum sativum (coriander) has been documented as a traditional treatment of diabetes. On the base of this belief and as the studies about whether coriander reduces hyperglycemia in diabetic mice is little known are lacking, we decided to evaluate the effect of Aqueous Extract seed of Coriander on optic nerve in Balb/c Diabetic Mouse. In the present study, the beta cells of pancreas of 16 balb/c mice were chemically destroyed by an injection of 130 mg/kg alloxan, and was divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was treated by 2.5 g/l crude aqueous extract seed of coriander in drinking water for 16 weeks and in the same manner control group received just drinking water. After administration of aqueous extract, the blood samples were drawn from the tail vein at beginning of every day. Blood glucose levels were determined and compared with glucose levels in control group. After 4 month, all mice were sacrificed and their optic nerves were removed and were embedded and serial sections were carried out. To study the neuronal changes, the Golgi method and morphometric analyses were used. Our findings show that, the number of asterocytes in control group decreases significantly in contrast to experimental group. There is also a decrease of blood glucose level in experimental group (aqueous extract of coriander) in comparison to control group. Although coriander has a significant decreasing effect on blood glucose level and prevents Optic nerve lesion, little is unknown about its mechanism of action. Thus, more investigations are need.