Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy and causes loss of vision. Elaeocarpus tectorius (Lour.) Poir. is a tree species that bears edible fruits and is traditionally used to treat diabetes. The study is aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of ethanolic leaf extract of E. tectorius on retinal oxidative stress and aldose reductase levels in STZ-NIC-induced diabetic rats. The leaf extract was orally administered to diabetic rats once a day for about 28 days at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. Fasting blood glucose levels were determined at regular intervals during the treatment period and retinal superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation levels and aldose reductase activity were assessed at the end of the experiment. Oral administration of E. tectorius leaf extract caused a significant decrease in the fasting blood glucose levels of diabetic rats. The extract also improved the retinal antioxidant status by increasing the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione. The rate of lipid peroxidation was lowered in diabetic rats as a result of treatment with the leaf extract. The diabetic rats treated with the leaf extracts also had lower retinal aldose reductase activity when compared to the untreated diabetic rats. This study suggests that Elaeocarpus tectorius leaf extracts exhibit protective effects and improve the antioxidant status of the retina under diabetic conditions helping in the prevention and management of diabetic retinopathy.
The prevalence of diabetes is growing at an alarming rate on a global scale with approximately 536.6 million people having diabetes in 2021. Medicinal plants are gaining recognition in the treatment of diabetes owing to their safety, ability and low cost. Elaeocarpus tectorius (Lour.) Poir. is one of the least explored plants belonging to the genus Elaeocarpus. With this context, the current study was aimed to explore the antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effect of ethanolic extract of E. tectorius leaves in diabetes-induced rats. Phytochemical screening was performed and the oral acute toxicity of the plant extract was explored. Experimental diabetes was induced using streptozotocin and nicotinamide. The experimental animals were orally treated with ethanolic leaf extract of E. tectorius at doses 200 mg/kg b.w. and 400 mg/kg b.w. for 28 days after which body weight, fasting blood glucose levels, markers of serum lipid profile and histological variations in the pancreas were ascertained. Oral treatment of E. tectorius leaf extract daily for 28 days has significantly brought down (p<0.05) the fasting glucose levels in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats and normalized the levels of serum lipid profile markers. The histological investigation revealed that the extract has caused significant restoration of pancreatic islet cells, and it was found that the dose of 400 mg/kg b.w. was more efficient and successful in treating hyperglycemia and circumventing related complications than 200 mg/kg b.w. The present study suggests that the leaf extract of E. tectorius possesses good antidiabetic and hypolipidemic activity and can be a useful and cheap alternative to treat diabetes.
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