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Abstract
Aqueous extract of macerated Vochysia rufa stem bark has been commonly used in the treatment of diabetes. Therefore, we evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of an extract of V. rufa on the pancreata of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Animals received one of the following treatments daily by oral gavage: water (diabetic-control), V. rufa extract (diabetic-V. rufa), or glibenclamide (diabetic-GBD). Total antioxidant capacity; levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, reduced glutathione, and sulfhydryls; and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were measured in the pancreas. Biochemical analysis of serum total cholesterol and fractions, triglycerides, creatinine, urea, acid uric, ALP, γ-GT, AST, and ALT was performed, and pancreatic β-cells positive for insulin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Rats treated with extract exhibited a decrease in fasting blood glucose compared with levels in diabetic control rats. GPx activity and sulfhydryl levels were significantly lower in diabetic-V. rufa rats compared with those of diabetic-control rats. V. rufa extract acted to normalize the biochemical alterations found in diabetic rats (diabetic-controls), as demonstrated by increases in urea, HDL, ALP, AST, and ALT. Reduction in blood glucose was independent of an increase in insulin. The V. rufa extract was found to be composed of free sugars (inositol, galactose, glucose, mannose, sucrose, arabinose, and ribose) as the main metabolites. Thus, aqueous extract of the stem bark of V. rufa is capable of reducing blood glucose, resulting in an antioxidant effect on the pancreatic tissue of STZ-diabetic rats.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that affects more than 347 million people worldwide [1] and is characterized by high blood glucose due to inadequate insulin production or insulin activity
Previous works have demonstrated that persistent hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes induces glucose autoxidation and protein glycosylation and that these processes increase the production of free radicals including reactive oxygen species (ROS) [2, 3]
In the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil, V. rufa has been used for glycemic control by patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that affects more than 347 million people worldwide [1] and is characterized by high blood glucose due to inadequate insulin production or insulin activity. Previous works have demonstrated that persistent hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes induces glucose autoxidation and protein glycosylation and that these processes increase the production of free radicals including reactive oxygen species (ROS) [2, 3]. In the case of A. santolina, this hypoglycemic activity is attributed to the presence of compounds with antioxidant properties and free radical scavengers in this plant [10]. 100 species of Vochysia (Vochysiaceae), including large trees and shrubs, occur throughout tropical America from Mexico to Peru. Our previous work has demonstrated that V. rufa reduces oxidative stress in the liver [15] Taken together, these findings suggest that studies to evaluate the effects of Vochysia compounds, including those in V. rufa, should be continued
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