Abstract
Oxidative stress is currently suggested to play a major role in the development of diabetes mellitus. There is an increasing demand of natural anti-diabetic agents, as continuous administration of existing drugs and insulin are associated with many side effects and toxicity. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of Momordica charantia (MC) and Trigonella foenum graecum (TFG) extracts (aqueous) on antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in heart tissue of normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. In a 30 days treatment, rats were divided into six groups (I-VI) of five animals in each,experiments were repeated thrice. Administration of MC (13.33 g pulp/kg body weight/day) and TFG (9 g seeds powder/kg body weight/day) extracts in diabetic rats has remarkably improved the elevated levels of fasting blood glucose. A significant decrease in lipid peroxidation (p<0.001) and significant increase in the activities of key antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH ) contents in heart tissue of diabetic rats were observed (group V and VI) upon MC and TFG treatment. Our studies demonstrate the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-oxidative potential of Momordica charantia and Trigonella foenum graecum, which could exert beneficial effects against the diabetes and associated free radicals complications in heart tissue.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by abnormal glucose metabolism which is usually associated with elevated blood glucose levels due to insulin deficiency or resistance, diminished glucose utilization in tissues that require insulin for glucose uptake, tissues in which glucose transport is not regulated by insulin face severe and sustained hyperglycemia.[1]
An intraperitonial dose (150 mg/kg body weight) of alloxan resulted in increase in fasting blood glucose level from 101.4±2.3 mg/dl to 284±3.16 mg/dl after 96 hours of alloxan injection, this high level of FBG was maintained in group IV throughout the period of study, treatment of diabetic rat with Momordica charantia (MC) extract and Trigonella foenum graecum (TFG) extract showed a time dependent decrease in FBG levels. (Table 2)
The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level were significantly increased (p < 0.001) in cardiac tissue of diabetic rats by 2.66-fold when compared with normal rats
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by abnormal glucose metabolism which is usually associated with elevated blood glucose levels due to insulin deficiency or resistance, diminished glucose utilization in tissues that require insulin for glucose uptake, tissues in which glucose transport is not regulated by insulin (cardiac tissue, blood vessels, peripheral nerves, renal medulla and ocular lens) face severe and sustained hyperglycemia.[1] One of the major complications of diabetes is the progression of cardiovascular disease in both the macro- and micro circulation. Microvascular complications of diabetes include nephropathy and retinopathy, macrovascular complication results in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease such as coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease which are the leading cause of death in diabetic population.[2,3,4] Several studies had demonstrated that oxidative stress, mediated mainly by hyperglycemia-induced generation of free radicals, contributes to the development and progression of diabetes and related complications. Oxidative stress describes the condition where the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) overpowers the amount of neutralizing agents or antioxidants.[5,6,7] Hyperglycemia can induce oxidative stress through advanced glycation end product (AGEs) formation, increased flux through the polyol pathway, increased activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and increased flux through hexosamine pathway.[8]
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