Open AccessAntioxidant activity and protection of pancreatic β ‐cells by embelin in streptozotocin‐induced diabetes
Author(s) -
GUPTA Rajnish,
SHARMA Anil K.,
SHARMA Mahesh C.,
GUPTA Radhey S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of diabetes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.949
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1753-0407
pISSN - 1753-0393
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-0407.2012.00187.x
Subject(s) - glibenclamide , medicine , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus , streptozotocin , ascorbic acid , antioxidant , glutathione peroxidase , glycated hemoglobin , superoxide dismutase , glutathione , oxidative stress , chemistry , biochemistry , enzyme , type 2 diabetes , food science
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of embelin in streptozotocin‐induced diabetes. Methods: Diabetes was induced in rats fasted overnight by the administration of a single dose of streptozotocin, and analyzed for blood, serum, and biological and histological pancreatic tissue parameters in intact control, diabetic, and embelin‐treated diabetic rats ( n = 9) at the dose levels of 15, 25, and 30 mg/kg/day for 21 days. Results: Diabetes caused highly significant abnormalities in blood, serum, and pancreatic tissue biochemical parameters. Embelin and glibenclamide administration to diabetic rats caused a highly significant decline in the blood glycated hemoglobin and serum glucose levels and nitric oxide activity, with a concomitant increase in the serum insulin level ( P < 0.001). Furthermore, embelin and glibenclamide treatment increased the pancreatic antioxidant enzyme status (superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S ‐transferase, and ascorbic acid), and also decreased the thiobarbituric acid reactive oxygen species contents ( P < 0.001). The histoarchitecture of the diabetic rats typically showed a degenerated pancreas with reduced β‐cell counts, while embelin treatment was shown to significantly regenerate islet cells. Conclusion: The study proves the potent antioxidant activity of embelin, which has been found to be effective in managing severe hyperglycemia.