The beneficial role of combinatorial spondias mombin and metformin treatments in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced Pancreatic damage

•Streptozotocin resulted in pancreatic histological alterations.•Co-administration of spondias mombin with metformin reversed these alterations.•Spondias mombin and metformin treatments reversed serum insulin and peritoneal fluid alpha amylase derangements.•Spondias mombin and metformin ameliorated STZ-induced serum caspase-3 expression. There is increasing folkloric evidence of the use of the Spondias mombin plant in the management of various illnesses including diabetes. This could be attributed to its anti-hyperglycemic activity. In the same manner, combinatorial therapy has been reported to give a better achievement of glycemic control. On this note, we examined the role of Spondias mombin or Metformin and their combined administrations following streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia and pancreatic damage in Wistar rats. For this study, 10 groups of rats (80–150 g) were utilized (A-J, n = 10). 1 mL/kg of citrate buffer (i.p.) was administered to the experimental control, while Groups B through F & I received Streptozotocin (STZ 60 mg/kg, i.p.), Spondias mombin (600 mg/kg p.o.), (400 mg/kg p.o), (200 mg/kg p.o), metformin (12.5 mg/kg p.o), and Spondias mombin + metformin (12.5 mg/kg) respectively; group B (untreated) while others were treated following hyperglycemia induction. Spondias mombin (400 mg/kg) only and metformin (12.5 mg/kg) only were administered to groups G and H, while J (not-induced) received Spondias mombin + metformin (12.5 mg/kg). Treatment lasted four weeks. The pancreatic tissues were evaluated for histoarchitectural damage with the Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson Trichome, and Periodic acid Schiff's stains. The Bcl-2 antibody was used to label the Bcl-2 protein for apoptotic changes. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and mean comparisons were done with the Duncan Multiple Range post hoc test. Significant differences were set at p < 0.05. Pancreatic induction with STZ resulted in pancreatic histoarchitectural alterations while Spondias mombin treatment only and combined Spondias mombin treatments with metformin ameliorated these abnormalities. Serum insulin was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), Peritoneal fluid α-Amylase, was significantly increased (p < 0.05), and serum caspase-3 levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the STZ-only treated group compared to the control. Spondias mombin, metformin only, and the Spondias mombin+metformin administered groups (C-F, and I) restored these alterations. Bcl-2 Immunoreactivity