Myrtenal attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of myrtenal on diabetes-associated oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and inflammation using a rat model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Following the induction of diabetes in male Wistar rats using STZ (40 mg/kg body weight), myrtenal (80 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally to diabetic rats for four weeks and then sacrificed to harvest tissues. We measured the levels of antioxidants, LPO, and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and the p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB p65). Diabetic rats revealed increased levels of LPO, proinflammatory cytokines, and NF-kB p65, and decreased levels of antioxidants in the liver and pancreas. Supplementation with myrtenal significantly attenuated the diabetes-induced changes in the liver and pancreas of diabetic rats. Our findings suggest that myrtenal may serve as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent against diabetes-associated oxidative stress and inflammation. Highlights Oral administration of myrtenal improved the antioxidant status in the liver and pancreas of diabetic rats. Myrtenal treatment diminished inflammation in the liver and pancreas of diabetic rats. Myrtenal supplementation averts oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic rats. Myrtenal could serve as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in the management of diabetes.