Diabetes is a life-threatening metabolic disorder. This study was undertaken to evaluate the antihyperglycemic and antioxidative potential of seed powder of Trigonella foenum-graecum L in alloxan (55 mg/kg) induced diabetic rats. The results obtained showed that extensive oxidative stress is generated in tissues of diabetic rats as evidenced by increased production of hydrogen peroxide, increased accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonanal (4HNE) and decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) in tissues of diabetic rats. It was observed that the transcription of genes of SOD, GPx, and CAT was also significantly decreased when compared with control. Treatment of Trigonella for 15 days to diabetic rats showed hypoglycemic effect and improved the altered levels of H2O2, MDA, and 4HNE, the activities of SOD, GPx, and CAT as well as transcription of these genes in the liver and the brain of diabetic rats.
Pycnogenol (PYC) is a procyanidin-rich extract of the bark of French maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) with a potent ability to scavenge free radicals. Lysosome-rich fractions from rat renal cortices were incubated with varying amounts of PYC and challenged with noxious doses of fl uoride. Controls were also included. The release of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) isozymes in the supernatant was estimated by spectrophotometric methods. The protein content of the renal cortex was also determined. Our results show that fluoride in unhealthy doses can cause a concentration dependent release of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) isozymes from the renal lysosomes. This may be related to its known ability to initiate free radical formation or direct damaging effects on the lysosomal membrane. As a blend of bio flavonoids pycnogenol has a potent ability to scavenge free radicals. In our study PYC was effective in preventing fluoride induced release of NAG isozymes from the renal lysosomes.
Diabetes is a life-threatening metabolic disorder worldwide. Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin and requires the person to inject insulin. Recently, there has been increasing interest in treatment with medicinal plants. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of Trigonella foenumgraecum seeds and bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum on level of blood glucose, insulin, glycogen and carbohydrate metabolic enzymes in experimental diabetes. Fiftyfour animals were used for present studies which were divided into nine groups. Diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of alloxan and diabetic rats were treated with three different doses of aqueous suspension Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds (440 mg/kg, 870 mg/kg and 1740 mg/kg body weight) and bark of cinnamomum zeylanicum (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days. Levels of blood glucose and insulin were measured in control as well as diabetic rats on 14 th day. In addition, histological alteration and changes in key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism also measured in diabetic rats. All parameters were compared with standard drug, glibenclamide. The results obtained showed that, oral administration of aqueous suspension of Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds and Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark powder to diabetic rats restored all the altered parameters to near normal in dose dependent manner. Our present study clearly revealed that Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds and cinnamomum zeylanicum bark possesses potent antihyperglycemic effect in experimental diabetic rats.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.