ANTI-HYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTI-OXIDATIVE EFFECTS OF L-CARNITINE ADMINISTRATION IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate anti-hyperglycemic and anti-oxidative effects of L-carnitine in alloxan induced diabetic albino wistar rats. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted at Isra University, Hyderabad from June 2017 to August 2017. Thirty-six albino wistar male rats were equally divided into 3 groups (n=12/group); group A (control), group B (alloxan 150mg/kg intraperitoneally) and group C (alloxan 150mg/kg intraperitoneally + L-carnitine 500mg/kg orally for 21 days). Diabetes was induced in group B and C by single intraperitoneal dose of alloxan 150mg/kg body weight and rats having blood glucose >200mg/dl were labeled as diabetic rats and included in study. Biochemical (blood glucose, serum insulin and glutathione peroxidase) and histopathological analysis of pancreas was performed in all three experimental groups. RESULTS: Post-experimental body weight in groups A, B and C were noted as 249.58±6.63, 199.08±12.18, 210.58±5.14 grams respectively. The fasting blood glucose in groups A, B and C were noted as 104.58±7.05, 221.25±8.22, 110.17±12.85 mg/dl respectively (P<0.001). Serum insulin in groups A, B and C was noted as 1.45±0.083, 0.31±0.16, 1.74±0.23 ηg/ml respectively (P<0.001). Glutathione peroxidase levels in groups A, B and C were noted as 1.45±0.17, 0.93±0.11, 1.74±0.17 ηg/ml respectively (P<0.001). Histopathology of pancreas showed reduction in size (mean islet diameter 157±1.5 µm) and number of islets of Langerhans in diabetic rats, while L-carnitine treated rats have shown compensatory increase in size of islets of Langerhans (mean islet diameter 210±6.3 µm). CONCLUSION: L-carnitine therapy is a potent anti-hyperglycemic and anti-oxidative regimen capable of reducing blood glucose and increasing plasma anti-oxidant levels.