Abstract
The study was designed to assess the effect of different strawberry extracts on glucose levels, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress in nicotinamide-streptozotocin (NIC-STZ) induced diabetic rats. The associated changes were evaluated through biochemical, molecular, and histological assays. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ to albino Wistar rats after treatment with nicotinamide. Aqueous, hydroalcoholic, and alcoholic strawberry extracts were administrated orally to diabetic rats. Treatment of strawberry extracts improved lipid profile, liver function, and serum creatinine and led to a significant increase in antioxidant status in diabetic rats. Real-time PCR expression analysis of genes from the liver of animals treated with strawberry extracts exhibited downregulation of several fatty acid synthesis genes, transcription factors, such as Sterol regulatory Element Binding Transcription factor (SREBP) and Nuclear Factor-κβ (NF-κβ), and inflammatory markers, like Interleukin 6 (IL6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α). Strawberry extracts also upregulated liver Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). Histological examination confirmed the nephroprotective and β-cell regeneration/protection effects of strawberry extracts. The present study demonstrates several beneficial effects of strawberry extracts along with its probable mechanism of action.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia due to disturbance in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both [1,2]
These high glucose levels were significantly reduced after administration of strawberry extracts for four weeks
We demonstrate that the strawberry extracts act on multiple cellular targets
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia due to disturbance in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both [1,2]. Current therapeutic strategies for type 2 diabetes are limited and involve insulin and oral antidiabetic agents that stimulate pancreatic insulin secretion, reduce hepatic glucose production, delay digestion and absorption of intestinal carbohydrates, or improve insulin action. These drugs are reported to have several adverse side effects and there is a growing interest in anti-hyperglycemic agents from natural products, especially those derived from plants. The present report is a comprehensive analysis of the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperglycemic effects of different strawberry extracts at the biochemical and molecular levels and their probable mechanism of action. The probable molecular mechanism of the strawberry extract was evaluated
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