Ameliorative potential of β-sitosterol and lupeol on high fat diet and streptozotocin -induced hepatorenal and cardiac complications via regulation of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes in diabetic rats

Abstract

Introductionβ-Sitosterol is a plant-derived compound that shares structural similarities with cholesterol and is used to treat coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and hypercholesterolemia etc. Lupeol is a natural pentacyclic triterpene, found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and traditional Chinese medicines like Astragalusmembranaceus and AtractylodesmacrocephalaKoidz. Numerous pharmacological activities of lupeol have been investigated; they include applications as antioxidant, antiviral, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory and antitumor agents.The current study wasaimed to examine the potential benefits of β-sitosterol and lupeol in reducing pathophysiological complications caused by high fat diet and streptozotocin by regulating the enzymes involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates in diabetic rats as there was no study on this aspect. MethodsMale albino wistar rats were given a high-fat diet for two weeks in order to cause diabetes in them. Following a two-week period, the animals were administered a low dosage of streptozotocin and maintained on an overnight fast. Using commercial diagnostic kits, we assessed plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C). Plasma insulin level was assayed with the help of an ELISA kit and other assays were made biochemically. ResultsThe homeostatic model of insulin resistance, glucose 6-phosphatase, fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, and blood glucose levels all significantly increased in the diabetic rats, while plasma insulin, hexokinase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and glycogen content significantly decreased.In addition, the hepatic (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase) and renal (urea and creatinine) indicators in diabetic rats were raised, and their lipid profiles were disrupted. However, diabetic rats treated with lupeol and β-sitosterol significantly restored all these changed parameters to the levels close to normal. Furthermore, the treatment of lupeol and β sitosterol improved the liver, kidney and heart histology alteration to near normal and prevented the body weight loss. DiscussionBecause of its structural polymorphism, β-sitosterol appeared to be more effective than lupeol in all the parameters investigated and thus these results imply that β sitosterol is a more effective antidiabetic medication than lupeol.