Effect of Curculigo pilosa supplemented diet on blood sugar, lipid metabolism, hepatic oxidative stress and carbohydrate metabolism enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has continued to raise concern globally and Curculigo pilosa (CP) is used for its treatment and management in folkloric medicine. In this study, the in vitro antioxidant abilities of CP and the effects of CP-supplemented diets on blood sugar, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and key carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated.

METHODS

Polyphenol contents (total phenolic and total flavonoid) and antioxidant ability of different extracts of CP were determined in vitro. Diabetes mellitus were stimulated in healthy rats by single intraperitoneal administration of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin and it was confirmed by elevated blood glucose level after 3 days. Thirty six rats were distributed into six groups of six rats each and diabetic rats were fed with 5 and 10% CP-supplemented diet for 21 days. Thereafter, the effects of the dietary regimen were evaluated on blood glucose, body weight, hepatic carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, lipid profile, oxidative stress markers, serum markers of hepatic and renal damages and histopathology studies.

RESULTS

Different extracts of CP contained polyphenol contents and exhibited antioxidant properties in different models used. Diabetic rats showed elevated level of blood glucose and body weight loss. Treatment of diabetic rats with CP-supplemented diet significantly (p < 0.05) lowered the blood glucose and improved body weight loss. Also, the treatment with the CP-supplemented diet significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the activities of hepatic glycolytic (hexokinase and glucose-6-dehydrogenase) and lowered the gluconeogenic (fructose 1, 6 biphosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase) enzymes in diabetic rats. The lipid profile, oxidative stress markers and serum markers of hepatic and renal damages were significantly (p < 0.05) restored to near normalcy in the diabetic rats. Histopathological slides also showed improvements in pancreas and hepatic tissues of diabetic rats treated with CP-supplemented diet.

CONCLUSION

Data obtained in this study suggested that CP-supplemented diet could be used as dietary regimen in the management of DM.

Antidiabetic activity of corn steep liquor extract of Curculigo pilosa and its solvent fractions in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The rhizome of Curculigo pilosa (CP) prepared with Corn steep liquor (CSL), is traditionally used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In this study, antidiabetic activity of the CSL extract and its fractions (butanol and methanol) were evaluated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) and diabetic rats were treated with 300 mg/kg bodyweight of the extract(s) for 28 days. Antidiabetic effect was monitored by plasma blood glucose, oral glucose tolerances test (OGGT), body weight and heamatological indices. Also serum urea, creatinine, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate and alanine transaminases were evaluated. The levels of hepatic glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide were assessed; also histopathology of the hepatic tissues was examined. Oral administration of the extract resulted in significant (p < 0.05) reduction of plasma blood glucose (29.32% crude extract and 22.96% butanol fraction) and also increased body weight (20.61% crude extract, 13.44% butanol fraction and 6.23% methanol fraction) of diabetic rats. The heamotogical indices, plasma parameters and hepatic oxidative stress in diabetic rats were returned to near normalcy following treatment with the extract(s). The GC-MS analysis of the extract revealed the presence of stilbene, a proven antidiabetic agent, which might be responsible for the antidiabetic activity. The results obtained suggest that the CSL extract of CP could be used in management of diabetes mellitus thus providing scientific validation of its use as an antidiabetic agent.

Ameliorative effects of β-sitosterol on some biochemical indices of hypertension in wistar albino rats

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases presently rank high as leading causes of death globally. The increasing acceptability of phytomedicine is due to the increasing inefficacy of many modern drugs used for the control of many diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effects of β-sitosterol (BSS) in comparison with lisinopril, a standard antihypertensive drug, on certain biochemical hypertensive parameters in rats.

METHODS

Hypertension was induced with cadmium chloride and biochemical analysis of serum was carried out following treatment with BSS and lisinopril. Serum urea, creatinine and electrolytes were assayed using standard kit as tests for renal function, while alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) served as enzyme indices of the liver function. The effect on the serum lipid profile was assessed and histological examination performed on tissues of the liver and kidney.

RESULTS

The rats treated with BSS showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the serum creatinine concentration when compared with the hypertensive rats. Treatment with lisinopril showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in the activity of AST and ALP when compared with the normal rats. There were slight variations in the concentration of serum electrolytes of rats treated with BSS and lisinopril respectively when compared with normal and hypertensive rats. BSS significantly reduced calcium levels when compared with the hypertensive group. The histopathological examination of the liver and kidney of animals treated with BSS was not different from the control which showed normal histological structure, while the liver of the hypertensive animals showed scanty inflamed cells.

CONCLUSION

The study shows that BSS is effective in restoring basal liver and kidney functions in hypertensive rats.

Antihypercholesterolemic activity of ethanolic extract of Buchholzia coriacea in rats

BACKGROUND

Hypercholesterolemia is a condition characterised with high level of cholesterol in the blood.

OBJECTIVES

The effect of ethanolic extract of Buchholzia coriacea (EEBC) on the lipid profile levels and extent of lipid peroxidation in hypercholesterolemic albino rats was investigated in this study.

METHODS

Thirty albino rats were divided into six different groups which consist of group 1 (control), group 2 (hypercholesterolemic rats), group 3 (hypercholesterolemic rats treated with ethanolic extract of EEBC), group 4 (hypercholesterolemic rats treated with questran), group 5 (normal rats treated with EEBC) and group 6 (normal rats treated with questran). The rats were sacrificed at the end of the sixth week and assay conducted for Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), lipid profile and biomarker of oxidative stress.

RESULTS

The serum and liver total cholesterol and LDL - cholesterol levels as well as lipid peroxidation in the EEBC-treated hypercholesterolemic rats were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) when compared with the untreated hypercholesterolemic rats. The activities of AST and ALT in EEBC - treated hypercholesterolemic rats were not significantly different (p > 0.05) from the control.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that Buchholzia coriacea seeds contain potent antihypercholesterolemic agent which may find clinical application in ameliorating hypercholesterolemia and its attendant complications.