In vivo acute toxicity, antidiabetic and antiulcer activities of polysaccharide from Linum usitatissimum L. seeds

The present study investigated acute oral toxicity, antidiabetic and antiulcer effects of the polysaccharide extracted from linseeds mature and ripe (Linum usitatisimum L., Family: Liliaceae). The acute oral toxicity (in vivo) of linseed polysaccharide was examined in Albino Wistar rats. In vivo antidiabetic activity and antiulcer activity were evaluated in Albino Wistar rats by alloxan-induced diabetic model and ethanol-induced ulcer model, respectively. The effects of linseed polysaccharide administered at 250 mg/kg of body weight dose on fasting blood glucose, body weight, lipid levels and histopathology of the treated pancreas were evaluated. The effects of linseed polysaccharide administered at 250 mg/kg of body weight dose on ulcer index, gastric secretion (gastric juice, pH, free acidity, and total acidity), macroscopic and histopathology analyses of treated gastric mucosa were evaluated. The acute oral toxicity results did not indicate any indication of toxicity associated with the administration of linseed polysaccharide to the treated rats. Linseed polysaccharide exhibited significant hypoglycaemic benefits in comparison to glibenclamide, which was treated as the positive control. In addition, linseed polysaccharide exhibited good gastroprotective properties with a significant improvement in inhibition percentage. Therefore, the results of the present study presented a clear demonstration of the potential uses of linseed polysaccharide as an adjuvant therapy for the management of diabetes mellitus and gastric ulcers.