Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw., which has long been prized for its therapeutic virtues, has shown promise in treating hyperglycemic conditions. This study investigates the chemical composition and antihyperglycemic capabilities of aqueous extracts from O. dillenii's pulp and peel, as well as their effects on major carbohydrate metabolism enzymes. Significant changes in the composition of bioactive chemicals between pulp and peel were discovered using high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD), with high amounts of p-coumaric acid, flavone, quercetin, and kaempferol. Key compounds included gallic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, 3-hydroxy flavone, quercetin, cinnamic acid, kaempferol, and flavone. p-coumaric acid was highest in the pulp (298.71 ± 0.43 mg/100 g) and peel (38.18 ± 1.08 mg/100 g), while flavone was higher in the peel (120.03 ± 0.26 mg/100 g). In vitro enzyme inhibition tests showed that the extracts successfully inhibited pancreatic α-amylase, lipase, and intestine α-glucosidase. Molecular docking experiments confirmed the enzyme-binding affinity of these drugs, demonstrating interactions stronger than the conventional medication acarbose. In vivo testing on healthy and diabetic rats demonstrated the extracts' ability to lower blood glucose levels without harm, even at high doses (up to 3,000 mg/kg). These findings indicate that O. dillenii pulp and peel extracts contain bioactive chemicals with promise as natural antidiabetic drugs, necessitating additional research for therapeutic applications.

To assess the antidiabetic effect of Opuntia dillenii seed oil on rats with diabetes mellitus. Methods: A rat diabetes model was established by intraperitoneal injection of rats with 50 mg/kg streptozotocin. Thirty albino Wistar rats were divided into five groups: the diabetic control group and normal control group were treated only with distilled water, two diabetic groups received 1 and 2 mL/kg of oil per day, respectively, for 30 days and one diabetic group received 2 mg/kg of glibenclamide. In addition, blood glucose was determined weekly. Body weight, average daily food, water intake and urinary volume of each animal were determined before and after the treatment period. After the treatment period, hepatic glycogen was determined using the anthrone reagent, and glycosuria, total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and uric acid were estimated using common clinical diagnostic kits. Results: Oral intake of the oil at 1 and 2 mL/kg for the diabetic animals significantly diminished blood glucose, glycosuria, total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and uric acid, accompanied by a noticeable elevation in the amount of hepatic glycogen in comparison with the diabetic control group. Similarly, Opuntia dillenii seed oil significantly increased the food intake and decreased the urinary volume per day in treated rats of the same groups in comparison with the period before the treatment intervention and attenuated body weight loss in the diabetic rats. Moreover, this effect of the oil was dose dependent. On the other hand, the oil did not affect their need for water. Conclusions: The results show that Opuntia dillenii seed oil has a very important antidiabetic effect on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Hence, we suggest it as a preventive control of diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To assess the antidiabetic effect of Opuntia dillenii seed oil on rats with diabetes mellitus. Methods: A rat diabetes model was established by intraperitoneal injection of rats with 50 mg/kg streptozotocin. Thirty albino Wistar rats were divided into five groups: the diabetic control group and normal control group were treated only with distilled water, two diabetic groups received 1 and 2 mL/kg of oil per day, respectively, for 30 days and one diabetic group received 2 mg/kg of glibenclamide. In addition, blood glucose was determined weekly. Body weight, average daily food, water intake and urinary volume of each animal were determined before and after the treatment period. After the treatment period, hepatic glycogen was determined using the anthrone reagent, and glycosuria, total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and uric acid were estimated using common clinical diagnostic kits. Results: Oral intake of the oil at 1 and 2 mL/kg for the diabetic animals significantly diminished blood glucose, glycosuria, total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and uric acid, accompanied by a noticeable elevation in the amount of hepatic glycogen in comparison with the diabetic control group. Similarly, Opuntia dillenii seed oil significantly increased the food intake and decreased the urinary volume per day in treated rats of the same groups in comparison with the period before the treatment intervention and attenuated body weight loss in the diabetic rats. Moreover, this effect of the oil was dose dependent. On the other hand, the oil did not affect their need for water. Conclusions: The results show that Opuntia dillenii seed oil has a very important antidiabetic effect on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Hence, we suggest it as a preventive control of diabetes mellitus.