L-Carnosine and Taurine Supplementation Attenuates the Intensity of Diabetes in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Male Albino Rats

Abstract

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder caused by defects in insulin production and insulin activity. l-Carnosine is a dipeptide containing histidine and beta-alanine and is present in animal muscles and tissues. The present study analyzed the anti-diabetic and antioxidant potential of l-carnosine and taurine in male rats with alloxan-induced diabetes. The experimental rat groups comprised normal control rats, diabetic rats, diabetic rats treated with 100 mg/kg of taurine and 100 mg/kg of l-carnosine, diabetic rats treated with 200 mg/kg of taurine and 200 mg/kg of l-carnosine, and diabetic rats treated with 600 µg/kg of glibenclamide. The treatments were administered orally for 45 consecutive days. Lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were substantially higher, by > 100%, in the diabetic rat serum and liver tissues. However, taurine and l-carnosine supplementation significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and ROS levels to close to control levels. Taurine and l-carnosine supplementation significantly improved superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase levels and reduced glutathione levels in diabetic rats. Total hexoses, sialic acid, hexosamines, and fucose increased in diabetic rats, whereas taurine and l-carnosine supplementation significantly reduced these total hexose, sialic acid, hexosamine, and fucose levels to close to control levels. Diabetic rats treated with taurine and l-carnosine exhibited significantly increased recovery of the normal size and cell count of islet cells in the β-cell region. Taken together, these data suggest that l-carnosine and taurine supplementation was effective against diabetes in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes.