Research Article

Impact of Coriander Seed Extract on Blood Sugar Levels and Histopathological Alterations of the Liver and Kidneys in Male Rats Affected by Alloxan-Induced Diabetes

Maha Mustafa Assim1, Assala Arkan Jawad2, Ammar Jawad Kadhim1, Zainab Haytham Razooki2, Ahmed Flayyih Hasan3,4*

1Ibn Sina University of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baghdad, Iraq; 2Department of Biology, College of Science, Al-Nahrain University, Jadiriya, Baghdad, Iraq; 3Biotechnology Research Center, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq; 4Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, College of Health and Medical Technology, Al-Farabi University, Baghdad, Iraq.

Received | December 04, 2025; Accepted | January 27, 2026; Published | May 06, 2026

*Correspondence | Ahmed Flayyih Hasan, Biotechnology Research Center, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq; Email: [email protected]

Citation | Assim MM, Jawad AA, Kadhim AJ, Razooki ZH, Hasan AF (2026). Impact of coriander seed extract on blood sugar levels and histopathological alterations of the liver and kidneys in male rats affected by alloxan-induced diabetes. J. Anim. Health Prod. 14(2): 720-725.

DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jahp/2026/14.2.720.725

ISSN (Online) | 2308-2801

Copyright: 2026 by the authors. Licensee ResearchersLinks Ltd, England, UK.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Introduction

Diabetes, also called diabetes mellitus, is a common endocrine disorder diagnosed by chronically elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). Diabetes occurs either due to insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas or because body cells become resistant to the effects of insulin (Lee et al., 2010). Diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, inexplicable weight loss, increased hunger, vision problems, dry skin, wearness, and tingling or numbness in the hands and feet (Al-Masri et al., 2024). Diabetes type 1 is brought on by the immune system erroneously damaging insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Genetic predisposition and environmental factors such as living conditions, lifestyle, and exposure to external agents play a significant role in triggering immune-mediated beta-cell destruction (Alum et al., 2022; Ibrahim et al., 2023). Dietary management is an essential component of diabetes control. Recommended foods for diabetic patients include veggies and fruits, whole grains (including barley, quinoa, brown rice, oats, and whole wheat), protein sources (low-fat or non-fat dairy products) as well as poultry, lean meats, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, tofu, and lentils (Fajarwati et al., 2023; Hussain et al., 2022).

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is a highly nutritious plant that is a good source of vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and vitamin K. Additionally, its essential oil has been reported to have antibacterial properties, while other bioactive compounds may help reduce blood pressure by promoting vasodilation and exerting mild diuretic effects (Hanafi and Hardiany, 2024). Coriander has also been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, where coriander seed infusion is believed to exert cooling and protective effects on the body (Hassan et al., 2022). Additionally, vitamin K present in coriander leaves and seeds plays a vital role in blood coagulation and bone health, perhaps lowering the chance of cardiovascular illnesses and osteoporosis (Alqudah et al., 2024).

Thus, the present study’s goal is to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of coriander seed extract against alloxan-induced diabetes by evaluating its impact on blood glucose levels and histopathological changes in the liver and kidneys of laboratory animals.

Materials and Methods

Animals and experimental design

The male, albino adult rats used in this experiment (twenty total, males were 200-225 g) were received from the Biotechnology Research Centre at Al-Nahrain University; all were housed under controlled environmental conditions in the laboratory (temperature: 20-25 °C, relative humidity: 50 %±10%, 12 hour light/dark environmental cycles); set access to foodstuff (standard laboratory pelleted) and water ad libitum during the duration of the study; and appropriately housed in cages. The rats were divided into four experimental groups at random (n=5).

• Group 1 (Control): Male, healthy, non-diabetic rats were administered normal saline (0.9% NaCl).
• Group 2 (Coriander Seed Extract): Male, healthy, non-diabetic rats will receive 250 mg/kg of coriander seed extract (coriandrum sativum) (Barotyha et al., 2021).
• Group 3 (Diabetic): Male rats were administered alloxan (a dose of 150 mg/kg) and subsequently had their blood sugar levels elevated (induced diabetes) (Dahiru and Musa, 2024).
• Group 4 (Diabetic + Coriander Seed Extract): Male rats were administered 250 mg/kg of coriander seed extract to determine if there was an effect on blood glucose levels.

Alloxan-induced diabetes in male rats

Twenty male rats were used in this study. Rats were separated into two groups (10 rats in each group), where one group of rats was deprived of food for 24 hours and injected intraperitoneally with 150 mg/kg body weight of alloxan monohydrate to induce diabetes, while the other group was used as a control. Alloxan works by inducing diabetes through the selective destruction of beta cells of the pancreas, resulting in insulin leakage and subsequent hypoglycemia (Dahiru and Musa, 2024). On the 24th hour following the injection of alloxan, rats whose blood glucose levels were measured using a blood glucose meter (PreciChek Autocode, AC-302, Germany) were classified as diabetic and had significant elevations in their blood glucose levels. These diabetic rats were assigned to the designated experimental treatments.

Biochemical and histopathological investigations

Following the four-week trial period, all of the trial animals were anesthetized and then euthanized, and blood samples were collected and spun in a centrifuge for biochemical analysis. The liver and kidney from each animal of the study were removed and placed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathology analysis. Tissues were dehydrated (using increasing ratios of ethanol (70-100%)) and then cycled through xylene prior to being embedded in paraffin wax. Tissues were cut on a microtome and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H and E), and all tissues were examined and photographed through the use of an optical microscope and according to the proper histological techniques (Yahya et al., 2024; Al-Khuzaay et al., 2024).

Statistical analysis

The statistical analysis for this project was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS®) v26 for Windows. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to examine the data, with a statistical significance level set at p < 0.05. All results were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD).

Results

Effect of coriander seed extract on blood sugar levels

As shown in Table 1, statistical analysis revealed a marked increase in blood glucose levels in diabetic animals on the first day, with only a slight decrease observed on the final day in Group 3. In contrast, diabetic animals treated with coriander seed extract (Group 4) exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in blood glucose levels by day 30.

Table 1: Effect of coriander seed extract on blood sugar levels in male rats (mg/dL).

Experimental groups	First day (Mean ± SE)	Last day (Mean ± SE)
Control	115.0 ± 0.41c	117.8 ± 0.48c
Coriander seed extract	119.0 ± 0.53c	121.7 ± 0.67c
Diabetic	449.8 ± 2.29a	394.8 ± 1.31a
Diabetic + Coriander extract	270.5 ± 1.85b	136.5 ± 1.94b

a-c: Means with different superscript letters within the same column are significantly different at p ≤ 0.05.

Effect of coriander seed extract on liver histology

Liver sections from the control group and the coriander seed extract-treated group displayed normal hepatocyte architecture (Figure 1A, B). The hepatocytes were polygonal with vesicular basophilic nuclei and eosinophilic granular cytoplasm. Binucleated hepatocytes were occasionally observed. Narrow hepatic sinusoids, lined by Kupffer cells and endothelial cells, separated the liver cords, which were radially arranged.

 

Liver sections from diabetic rats (Group 3) had significantly disorganized hepatocyte cords extending from centrilobular to periportal areas. Notable characteristics included sinusoidal congestion, localized bleeding, severe hydropic degeneration, many apoptotic bodies, and heavy infiltration of leukocytes (Figure 1C).

Coriander seed extract treatment improved diabetic rat liver tissue characteristics (Group 4) by moderately reducing hepatocyte vacuolation, slightly reducing hemorrahge, slightly reducing leukocyte infiltration, and showing reduced hydropic degeneration compared with untreated diabetic rats (Figure 1D).

Effect of coriander seed extract on kidney histopathology

Kidney sections from both control and coriander seed extract-treated groups had normal histological architecture, including intact Bowman’s capsules and renal tubules (Figure 2A, B). Kidneys from diabetic rats (Group 3) had significant histopathological changes compared to controls, including coagulative necrosis (as shown by black arrows), dilation and degeneration of renal tubules (as shown by white arrows), and vessel congestion due to the presence of red blood cells (Figure 2C).

 

Kidney sections from coriander seed extract-treated diabetic rats (Group 4) showed moderate improvement but continued to display some histopathological changes. Compared to Group 3, histopathological findings included mild tubular degeneration (white arrows), minimal intertubular hemorrhage, and moderate leukocyte infiltration, suggesting coriander seed extract provided some protective effects against alloxan-induced kidney damage.

Discussion

Diabetes has become a major global health problem throughout the world with an estimated 366 million people expected to have the disease by 2030 more than double the number of people (171 million) who were reported to have diabetes by 2000 (Hamadjida et al., 2023). The two primary organs involved in maintaining the homeostasis of glucose in the body are the liver and kidney. Changes in these two organs due to diabetes have directly impacted how the body metabolizes and maintains its levels of glucose (Daniel et al., 2022).

Multiple animal models have established the causal link between diabetes and hyperglycemia (high levels of blood sugar), oxidative stress and the inability to generate or synthesize adequate amounts of antioxidants, as well as producing reactive oxygen species as by-products of the process (Olorunsola et al., 2022). Alloxan (a compound frequently used for inducing diabetes in laboratory animals) has been shown to have an extremely high level of toxicity on pancreatic β-cells ultimately leading to the failure of the β-cells. In this experiment, administration of alloxan produced hyperglycemia, along with severe damage to the islets of Langerhans, including necrosis (death of cells), degeneration (breakdown of cells), and hypocellularity (decrease in the number of β-cells) (Utami et al., 2024; Frolova et al., 2022). All our findings are consistent with previous studies that support the use of medicinal plants as alternatives for preventing or reducing the incidence and severity of diabetes, and therefore warrant additional research regarding the clinical use of these plants (Huda et al., 2024; Abd El-Emam et al., 2024). As with prior studies (Aleem et al., 2022), we also observed a significant increase in blood glucose levels after administering alloxan on day 1 of experimentation, followed by a minimal decrease by the end of the experiment (Table 1). Histopathological examination of the islets of Langerhans demonstrated significant necrosis, degeneration, and hypocellularity in alloxan-treated animals (Table 1).

Medicinal plants have been shown to exert protective effects against diabetes-induced organ damage over the past decade (Opara et al., 2021). Among these, coriander (Coriandrum sativum) seed extract has demonstrated significant therapeutic potential (Hanafi and Hardiany, 2024). In the present study, treatment with coriander seed extract significantly lowered blood glucose levels in diabetic rats and improved liver and kidney histology compared with untreated diabetic animals. These findings are consistent with previous studies reporting the beneficial effects of coriander seed extract on glucose metabolism and organ protection in rats (Mahran et al., 2023; El-Hennamy et al., 2025; Shalaby et al., 2023).

Conclusion

The current research indicates that male rats with alloxan-induced diabetes exhibit substantial hyperglycemia and severe damage to the liver and kidneys. The blood glucose-lowering effects of a coriander (Coriandrum sativum) seed extract also improved liver and kidney histology in the alloxan-treated rats. Therefore, this study provides evidence that the extract of coriander seed has both significant antidiabetic and organ protecting properties and may be useful as a natural agent for treating diabetes and its complications. Further studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of action associated with these protective effects.

Acknowledgement

Thanks are due to the authors for funding the entire article.

Novelty Statement

Our study provides strong and positive results indicating that coriander seed extract is highly effective in reducing blood sugar levels and improving liver and kidney tissue quality in diabetic rats.

Author’s Contribution

M.M.A and A.A.J.: Study Design. A.J.K and Z.H.R.: Methodology and Language Editing. H.M.A. and A.F.H.: Writing and Corresponding Author.

Ethical approval

Approval to conduct the study was given by the Biotech Research Centre at the University of Nahrain in November 2024 for ethical approval for the purpose of performing this work.

Funding

None.

Generative AI and AI-assisted technology statement

The authors acknowledge that no artificial intelligence tools were used in this article.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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