It was noted that the destruction accounting for 90% of insulin-secreting β-cells of the islets of
Langerhans was caused by alloxan; hence, high blood glucose levels were detected. When compared with the untreated diabetic rats, the higher numbers of islets of Langerhans found in the diabetic rats treated with extract of T. laurifolia were associated with lower levels of blood glucose. The extract might aid in the recovery of β-cells to secrete insulin; the blood glucose level, therefore, was lower after treatment. Nevertheless, the recovery of β-cells was marginally observed. High levels of serum insulin and low levels of blood glucose were reported in the diabetic rats that were trained to exercise (Laileard et al, 1996). The authors suggest that exercise could induce the recovery of β-cells in diabetic rats. The recovery of β-cells found in this study (Fig 2 C, D), which was associated with low blood glucose levels was likely induced by the extract of T. laurifolia. The blood glucose levels of the diabetic rats treated with the extract of T. laurifolia, however, was not as low as that of the normoglycemic