الفهرس 
1-INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Alfalfa has been used for a long time in folk medicine, due to the importance of its effect on diseases that affect adults, such as diabetes and others.
Therefore, the study aims to identify the potential therapeutic effects of alfalfa extracts on the state of oxidants and antioxidants in diabetic rats. 30 male albino mice of the Sprague-dawley strain were used, their weights reached 150±10 gm. Then the mice were divided into two groups as follows:
The first group: The negative control group, consisting of 5 rats, was fed on the main meal.
The second group: diabetic rats.
Which were divided into 5 equal groups (5 rats per group) as follows:
• group (2): Rats were fed on a basal diet and served as a positive control group.
• group (3): Rats were fed on a basal diet and treated orally with aqueous alfalfa extract 200 mg/kg of rat body weight.
• group (4): Rats were fed on a basal diet and treated orally with aqueous alfalfa extract 400 mg/kg of rat body weight.
• group (5): Rats were fed on a basal diet and treated orally with ethanolic alfalfa extract 200 mg/kg of rat body weight.
• group (6): Rats were fed on a basal diet and treated orally with ethanolic alfalfa extract 400 mg/kg of rat body weight.
The experiment lasted for 28 days, and at the end of the experiment, the rats were weighed, then slaughtered, and blood samples were collected after 12 hours of fasting. Then separate the serum to estimate the level of blood sugar and blood lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and calculating both low-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein) The estimation of liver function (aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase) and kidney function (urea, creatinine and uric acid) in addition to estimation of CAT, SOD and MDA).
• This is in addition to extracting the internal organs (liver and kidneys) for each rat, weighing and storing them in 10% formalin for histological examinations.
• The results were analyzed using the COSTAT program and the results were presented as (mean ± standard deviation).
The results obtained can be summarized as follows:
First, the biological findings
-The effect of the alfalfa extracts on the average weight gained and daily intake of food and the rate of food efficiency.
gained weight
The groups that took the aqueous extract of alfalfa at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of body weight, as well as the groups that took the alcoholic extract of alfalfa at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of body weight, recorded a significant decrease at (P<0.05) when compared to the positive control group. group (6) showed the best results.
Average daily intake from food
Both the groups who consumed the alcoholic and aqueous extracts of alfalfa at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of body weight had a decrease that was statistically significant (P<0.05) when compared to the positive control group. The best results were displayed by group no. )6).
Food Efficiency Ratio
All groups that took the alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves, as well as the groups that took the aqueous extract of alfalfa leaves, recorded a significant decrease at the level (P < 0.05) when compared to the positive control group, except for the group that took the aqueous extract of alfalfa leaves 200 mg/kg of body weight recorded a non-significant increase at the level (P<0.05)) when compared to the positive control group. The group treated with 400 mg/kg of body weight of the alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves recorded the best nutritional group.
The effect of alfalfa extracts on the weight of the organs:
Relative weight of the liver
All groups that took the alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves, as well as the groups that took the aqueous extract of alfalfa leaves, recorded a significant decrease at (P < 0.05) when compared to the positive control group. The group treated with 400 mg/kg of body weight of the alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves recorded the best group.
Relative weight of the kidney
All groups that took the alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves, as well as the groups that took the aqueous extract of alfalfa leaves, recorded a significant decrease at (P < 0.05) when compared to the positive control group. The group treated with 400 mg/kg of body weight of the alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves recorded the best group.
The relative weight of the heart and lung
All groups that took the alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves, as well as the groups that took the aqueous extract of alfalfa leaves, recorded a significant decrease at (P < 0.05) when compared to the positive control group. The group treated with 400 mg/kg of body weight of the alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves recorded the best group.
Relative weight of the spleen
All groups that took the alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves and also the groups that took the aqueous extract of alfalfa leaves recorded a significant decrease at the level (P< 0.05) when compared with the positive control group, except group that took the aqueous extract of alfalfa leaves (200 mg/kg) recorded a significant decrease at the level (P< 0.05) when compared with the positive control group. The group which took 400 mg/kg alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves was the best group.
Blood test results
1- The results indicated that there was a significant decrease in glucose levels for diabetic rats that took the aqueous extract of alfalfa at a concentration of (200 and 400 mg/kg) in addition to taking the alcoholic extract of alfalfa at a concentration of (200 and 400 mg/kg) from the weight of the mouse. This is when compared to the positive control group. The group treated with 400 mg/kg of body weight alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves recorded the lowest values and thus the best group.
2- The results indicated that there was a significant decrease in the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides in diabetic rats after they took the aqueous extract of alfalfa at a concentration of (200 and 400 mg/kg) in addition to taking the alcoholic extract of alfalfa at a concentration of (200 and 400 mg/kg) of mouse weight. This is when compared to the positive control group. The group treated with 400 mg/kg of body weight alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves recorded the lowest values and thus the best group.
3- The results indicated that there was a significant increase in high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in diabetic rats when compared to the positive control group. On the contrary, the levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) were significantly lower compared to the positive control groups. The group treated with 400 mg/kg alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves recorded the best group.
4- The results showed an increase in the activity of the enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in diabetic rats, while the results showed a significant decrease in the activity of these enzymes in rats that took the aqueous extract of alfalfa at a concentration of (200, 400 mg/kg) in addition to taking the alcoholic extract of alfalfa at a concentration of (200 and 400 mg/kg) from the weight of the mouse when compared to the positive control group. The group treated with 400 mg/kg alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves recorded the lowest values and therefore the best group.
5- The results indicated that there was a significant decrease in the levels of urea, creatinine, and uric acid in diabetic rats after they took the aqueous extract of alfalfa at a concentration of (200, 400 mg/kg), in addition to taking the alcoholic extract of alfalfa at a concentration of (200, 400 mg/kg) of mouse weight when compared to the positive control group. The group treated with 400 mg/kg alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves recorded the lowest values and thus the best group.
6- The results showed a significant increase in the activity level of anti-oxidants catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a significant decrease in the level of oxidizers malondialdehyde (MDA) in the groups treated with alfalfa extracts when compared to the positive control groups. The group treated with 400 mg/kg alcoholic extract of alfalfa leaves recorded the best results and thus the best group.
Second, histopathological findings:
The histopathological examination of the internal organs (liver and kidneys) indicated that clear histopathological changes were caused to the internal organs of the mice after the rats got diabetes, while treatment with different concentrations of alfalfa extracts led to an improvement in the histopathological structure of the organs, and these histopathological changes were consistent with chemical analyzes.