Effect of Olive Leaf Extract on the Kidney of Pregnant Diabetic Rats and Their Fetuses

Aim of the work: Diabetes during pregnancy leads to fetal congenital malformations and long-term postnatal diseases. Antidiabetic plants are used as supportive therapy in the treatment of diabetes during pregnancy, so the present study aims to investigate the protective effect of olive leaf extract on the kidney of the pregnant rats and their fetuses. Material and methods: forty pregnant albino rats were used and categorized into four groups after mating; group 1: control group, group 2: olive leaf extract (1 ml/100gm. b. wt), group 3, streptozotocin induced diabetic rats (STZ 35 mg/kg b.wt.) , group 4, diabetic rats treated with olive leaf extract (as in groups 2&3) . The pregnant females were dissected on the19th day of pregnancy.Blood sample were collected to estimate the biochemical parameters of the kidney functions. Also, kidney samples were taken for the histological and histochemical studies. Results: administration of olive leaves extract didn't change the external characters of the fetuses while, fetuses of the diabetic mothers showed some developmental retardation such as, apalpebralia, anotia and small in size.. On the other hand, fetuses of the diabetic mothers which were treated with olive leaves extract showed somewhat normal morphological development. According to the biochemical, histopathological and histochemical observations, the olive leaf extract succeeded to minimize the drastic changes which were observed in the diabetic rats and their fetuses..Conclusion: it is recommended that the use of the olive leaf extract has the ability to minimize the damage of hyperglycemia.