Hypoglycemic and pancreatic protective effects of freeze-dried strawberries in alloxan-induced diabetic rats: implications for pharmaceutical application

Background and objectives. Freeze-dried strawberries (FDS) are rich in bioactive compounds with potential antidiabetic properties. This study evaluated the hypoglycemic effects and pancreatic protective activity of FDS in an alloxan-induced diabetic rat model, with consideration of its relevance to pharmaceutical formulation and dosing. Materials and methods. A true experimental pretest–posttest control group design was conducted in twenty-five Wistar rats (8–12 weeks old), randomly assigned to five groups: non-diabetic control, untreated diabetic control, and three treatment groups receiving 1000, 1500, or 2000 mg/kg body weight (BW) FDS orally for 14 days. Diabetes was induced via a single intraperitoneal dose of alloxan (150 mg/kg BW). Fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight, and pancreatic histopathology (insulitis scoring) were assessed. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests with p < 0.05 as significant. Results. FDS at ≥1500 mg/kg BW significantly reduced FBG compared to the untreated diabetic group (mean reduction: 162.2 ± 40.5 mg/dL at 1500 mg/kg, p < 0.05) and restored pancreatic histoarchitecture, with >50% reduction in insulitis incidence. No additional histopathological benefit was observed at 2000 mg/kg BW. Body weight changes were minimal across groups. Conclusions. FDS demonstrated dose-dependent hypoglycemic and pancreatic protective effects in diabetic rats, with 1500 mg/kg BW identified as the minimum effective dose. These findings support further investigation into the development of standardized FDS-based nutraceuticals or functional food formulations for diabetes management, including stability, dosage form design, and clinical translation.