Histologic investigation of Langerhans islets of pancreas in diabetic rats treated with dill (Anethum gravelens) hydroalcoholic extract

Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a plant from umbellifera. In this research، the protective effect of dill extract on injured pancreatic tissue in diabetic rats was investigated. Fifteen adult male rats، weighing 200-250 gr، were used in three groups of five each. Rats in the control group، received physiological serum equal to the injecting material volume. Rats in the second group (diabetic) were induced diabetes with 120 mg/kgbw dose of alloxan monohydrate. Third group (diabetic+dill) received 300 mg/kgbw dose of dill hydroalchoholic extract. The average size and number of pancreatic islets in the diabetic group was significantly less than the control group (P<0. 05). Also in the pancreatic sections of the treated group with dill extract، most of the islets significantly increased in diameter and they had cell number more than the diabetic and control groups (P<0. 05). The dill extract could be effective on regeneration of the injured pancreatic islets in the diabetic rats، probably due to antioxidant compounds in the extract. The extract of dill increases the rate of cell proliferation. It seems that increase in islet size and cell number is a result of remainder cells proliferation in the islets.