Biochemical and Immunohistochemical Study of the Effect of Rhubarb (Rheum ribes) against the Oxidative Stress on the Brain and Pancreas in an Animal Model

RASHS MUZAHEM HATEM*
Department of Biology, College of Science, Al-Qadyssiyah University, Iraq
*(e-mail: Rasha.albukhlate@qu.edu.iq; Mobile: +967817148945)
(Received: May 17, 2022; Accepted: June 19, 2022)

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to investigate the effect of Rhubarb (Rheum ribes) on the brain and pancreas of
male rats affected by aging. A total of 24 white albino rats aged three month old were used in this
experiment. The samples were divided into four groups, each containing six rats. The rats in the first
group were administrated normal saline and set as a control group. Those in the second group were
injected with 500 mg/kg of D-galactose (D-gal) for 40 days. Animals in the third group were administrated
with Rheum ribes. The fourth group was subjected to both D-gal and R. ribes. At the end of the study, blood serum, pancreas and brain samples were collected. The obtained results indicated a considerable increase in the glucose, melanoaldihide and beta-amyloid levels (P0.01). On the other hand, glutathione decreased significantly in rats in the D-gal group (P0.01), compared to other groups. The fourth group revealed a significant rise in glucose, melanoaldihide and beta-amyloid levels (P0.01) and a decrease in glutathione levels when compared to the control and R. ribes groups. Immunohistochemically, the study showed that D-gal group was strongly positive to the stain, while the combination group indicated a weak positive to the immunohistochemical stain. Control and R. ribes group revealed a negative result when staining with immunohistochemical stain. The results suggest that R. ribes extract has some anti-hypoglycemic effects. However, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Key words : Rheum ribes, oxidative stress, immunohistochemical assays