Influence of silymarin and chromium picolinate on the pharmacotherapy of rats with induced diabetes

Gisele Mara Silva Gonçalves,Pedro Paulo Barros,Júlia Ferreira Watanabe,André Bernardo De Camargo Eisinger,Gustavo Henrique Da Silva

doi:10.15446/rcciquifa.v49n1.81648

Gisele Mara Silva Gonçalves, Pedro Paulo Barros + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.15446/rcciquifa.v49n1.81648

Copy DOI

Abstract

Food supplements are easily acquired and used in various countries. Silymarin has been indicated for diseases of the liver and Chromium picolinate has been indicated for body weight loss and for the improvement of glycemic index. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of short-term treatment with a combination of silymarin (50 mg/kg) and chromium picolinate (5 µg/kg) on the standard glibenclamide treatment (10 mg/kg) of rats with induced diabetes. DM2 was induced with streptozotocin. Experimental groups of rats: healthy control group, glibenclamide diabetic group, silymarin diabetic group, and silymarin, chromium picolinate and glibenclamide group. After 10 days of oral treatment, we determined body weight, fasting glycemia, glycemia 1 h after gastric gavage with sucrose, and AST and ALT transaminases. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that there was no change in body weight or fasting glycemia, but that glycemia increased after gavage with sucrose in the group submitted to combined therapy. Thus, we concluded that the combination of silymarin and chromium picolinate reduced the efficacy of glibenclamide in the short term, although the two substances had a protective effect on the liver as observed by the reduction of blood transaminase levels.

Highlights

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a syndrome characterized by impairment of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism
Statistical analysis of the data indicated that there was no change in body weight or fasting glycemia, but that glycemia increased after gavage with sucrose in the group submitted to combined therapy
Our results suggest that the association of silymarin and chromium picolinate reduced the antihyperglycemic effect of glibenclamide, other authors have reported that each one of these substances, administered alone, can favor glycemic control [21, 22]

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a syndrome characterized by impairment of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. DM may be insulin dependent or non-insulin dependent when the tissues are less sensitive to the effect of insulin [1]. This is a public health topic and type 2 DM is the more common, with its complications representing one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world [2, 3]. In type 2 DM, insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and poor beta cell functioning can be detected several years before the diagnosis and are correlated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Some investigators have correlated inflammation and oxidative stress to DM and for this reason they support treatment with antioxidants, suggesting that they may have beneficial effects regarding the preservation of beta cell function [5]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion