Abstract

Background Diabetes has been considered as one of the fastest growing epidemic worldwide; the number of people with diabetes is estimated to increase from 381.8 million in 2013 to 591.9 million in 2030. Oxidative stress in diabetic tissues is accompanied by a high level of free radicals and the simultaneously declined antioxidant enzymes status leading to cell membrane damage. In the present study, the effect of sodium orthovanadate (SOV) and Trigonella foenum graecum seed powder (TSP) administration has been studied on hepatic glucose homeostasis, lipogenic enzymes and lipid metabolism in liver tissues of the alloxan-induced diabetic rats and to see whether the treatment with SOV and TSP is capable of reversing these effects. Methods Diabetes was induced by administration of alloxan monohydrate (15 mg/100gm b.wt.) and rats were treated with 2IU insulin, 0.6 mg/ml SOV, 5% TSP in the diet and a combination of 0.2 mg/ml SOV with 5% TSP separately for 21 days. Control animals were given only the vehicle. The activities of two lipogenic enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme; and related enzymes, hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase were measured in the liver cytosolic fractions of diabetic rats and diabetic rats treated separately with TSP and SOV. The total lipids, triglycerides and cholesterol levels were estimated in the livers of the diabetic and the treated rats. Results Diabetic rats showed hyperglycemia with almost four-fold high blood glucose levels. The activities of both the lipogenic enzymes and hexokinase isozymes were significantly decreased whereas the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase was significantly increased in the diabetic liver. During diabetes, the levels of total lipids and triglycerides increased significantly with a decrease in the cholesterol levels in the liver. TSP and SOV were able to restore the altered enzyme activities to almost control levels. Rats treated with the combined dose of SOV and TSP had glucose levels comparable to controls, similar results were obtained with the triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the liver of diabetic rats. Conclusions Our results showed that lower doses of SOV (0.2 mg/ml) could be used in combination with TSP to effectively counter diabetic alterations without any toxic side effects.

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