Effect of hot water infusion of roasted date palm seeds on improving insulin sensitivity and alleviating high-carbohydrate diet-induced hyperglycaemia in rats

Abstract

The Antihyperglycaemic potential of the hot water infusion of roasted Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) seeds (HAERD) was evaluated in high-carbohydrate diet (HCD)-induced hyperglycaemic male Wistar rats. After 8 weeks of HCD feeding to induce hyperglycaemia, rats were treated orally with HAERD (200 and 500 mg/kg), metformin (150 mg/kg), or vehicle for 21 days. HAERD produced significant dose-dependent reductions in fasting blood glucose (p < 0.05), with the 500 mg/kg dose achieving near-normal values by Week 6. It also significantly improved serum insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR index in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05), approaching the effects of metformin. Additionally, HAERD normalised the lipid profile by significantly lowering total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and VLDL-C (p < 0.0001), while restoring antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx) and markedly reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p < 0.0001). Liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) and bilirubin decreased significantly (p < 0.0001), accompanied by recovery of total protein and albumin. Histopathological examination revealed dose-dependent regenerative changes and near-normal tissue architecture in the liver, kidney, and heart at 500 mg/kg, comparable to the metformin-treated group. These results demonstrate that HAERD exerts robust multi-target metabolic benefits—including antihyperglycaemic, hypolipidaemic, antioxidant, and multi-organ protective effects—in HCD-induced hyperglycaemia, with the 500 mg/kg dose showing efficacy approaching that of metformin (p < 0.05). The findings support the traditional use of roasted date palm seed infusion and its potential as a sustainable, affordable nutraceutical for managing hyperglycaemia and associated complications.