The leaf of Psidium guava is traditionally used in Asia to manage, control and treat diabetes. We designed this study to elucidate the effect of the administration of oral doses of aqueous and ethanol extract from Psidium guava leaves on plasma glucose, lipid profiles and the sensitivity of the vascular mesenteric bed to Phenylephrine in diabetic and non diabetic rats. Animals were divided into 5 groups (n = 10): two groups served as non-diabetic controls (NDC), while the other groups had diabetes induced with a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Psidium guava-treated chronic diabetic (PSG-CD) and Psidium guava-treated controls (PSG-C) received 1g/l of Psidium guavaadded to the drinking water for 8 weeks. The mesenteric vascular beds were prepared using the McGregor method. Administration of Psidium guava caused Ca/Mg ratio, plasma glucose, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations to return to normal levels, and was shown to decrease alteration in vascular reactivity to vasoconstrictor agents. Our results support the hypothesis that Psidium guava could play a role in the management of diabetes and the prevention of vascular complications in STZ-induced diabetic rats
Aims/Introduction
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible effect of oral magnesium sulfate (Mg
SO
4
) in the reduction of atherosclerosis plaques through inhibition of lectin‐like low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐1 (
LOX‐1
) gene expression in diabetic vessels.
Materials and methods
A total of 50 rats were divided into five groups, including non‐diabetic control, Mg‐treated non‐diabetic control, chronic diabetic, Mg‐treated chronic diabetic and insulin‐treated chronic diabetic. The induction of diabetes was carried out by streptozotocin. The Mg‐treated chronic diabetic and Mg‐treated non‐diabetic control groups were treated with 10 g/L of Mg
SO
4
added to their drinking water. The insulin‐treated chronic diabetic group received 2.5 U/kg of insulin twice per day. The fasting blood glucose level and bodyweight were determined weekly. Blood pressure measurement and the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test were carried out after 16 weeks, and the plasma levels of Mg, lipid profile and oxidized low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (ox
LDL)
were determined. The mesenteric bed was isolated and perfused according to the McGregor method. The aorta was isolated for
LOX
‐1
genes and proteins expression, and pathological investigation.
Results
Mg
SO
4
administration improved blood pressure, sensitivity to phenylephrine, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, lipid profile and plasma ox‐
LDL
level, and also lowered the blood glucose level to the normal range, and decreased
LOX
‐1
gene and protein expressions. Insulin decreased blood pressure, sensitivity to phenylephrine, blood glucose, lipid profiles and plasma ox
LDL
level, but it did not decrease
LOX
‐1
gene and protein expressions.
Conclusions
The present findings suggested that Mg
SO
4
improves blood pressure and vessel structure through decreasing ox
LDL,
and
LOX
‐1
gene and protein expressions; however, insulin did not repair vessel structure, and
LOX
‐1
gene and protein expressions.
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