The use of plants for medicinal purposes has a long history worldwide. There is a lack of research that identifies the antidiabetic effect of edible Omani wild plants. Oxidative stress mediates the pathogenesis of diabetes and it has been suggested that natural antioxidants might be considered as an effective intervention for combating diabetes. This study aimed to assess the anti-diabetic and antioxidant potential properties of two edible Omani wild plants (Pteropyrum scoparium and Oxalis corniculata) or their mixture in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty-seven male Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 250–300 g, were allocated into 5 groups: non-diabetic (9 rats/group), diabetic group (7 rats/group), and three diabetic groups that received oral feeding of either Pteropyrum scoparium, Oxalis corniculata, or their mixture (7 rats/group). Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection dose of STZ drug, 50 mg/kg body weight. At the end of the experimental trial, after 8 weeks, all rats were fasted overnight and sacrificed; blood glucose was measured, meanwhile, pancreatic tissues were dissected and homogenized for the biochemical assessment of oxidative stress markers (glutathione, GSH, and total antioxidant capacity, TAC). STZ resulted in hyperglycemia and oxidative stress (GSH depletion and TAC impairment) in the diabetic group as compared to the non-diabetic group. Meanwhile, the concomitant treatment of diabetic groups with the two wild edible Omani plants or their mixture has shown a protective effect against the STZ-induced hyperglycemia, but with no effect on oxidative stress. It was noted that for the final body weight, the improvement was not significant. Histopathological examination of the pancreatic tissues showed that the STZ injection leads to pathological changes associated with diabetes in the pancreatic tissues of all diabetic groups. Pteropyrum scoparium and Oxalis corniculata combated the STZ-induced hyperglycemia with no effect on oxidative stress. There was no synergistic effect of Pteropyrum scoparium and Oxalis corniculata on hyperglycemia or oxidative stress.

The use of plants for medicinal purposes has a long history worldwide. There is a lack of research that identifies the antidiabetic effect of edible Omani wild plants. Oxidative stress mediates the pathogenesis of diabetes and it has been suggested that natural antioxidants might be considered as an...