Antioxidative and antidiabetic activities of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) juice on oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic male Wistar albino rats

Abstract

Background:The nutritional and medicinal importance of watermelon has been emphasized and its diseases preventive and curative power must be evaluated. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the antioxidative and antidiabetic potentials of watermelon.Materials and Methods:The in vivo assay was carried out on 15 male albino rats which were divided into groups of three stages. In stage I, all animals received normal feeds and water for 1-week after, which five animals were selected and sacrificed for biochemical analyses which form the nondiabetic control, group. The remaining animals were fasted for 24 h before injected intra-peritoneally with a freshly prepared solution of alloxan at a dosage of 35 mg/kg body weight. Five out of the 10 rats were sacrificed as diabetic group while last five animals were fed with water melon juice for a week after, which they were sacrificed to form the treated group animals. In all the groups, body weights, fasting blood sugar, total protein level in the blood, and other biochemical parameters such as reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration; catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) % inhibition activities were determined.Results:The results of the biochemical analyses showed a significant increase in the concentration of blood glucose level after treatment with alloxan, which indicates that diabetic was induced. Hence, watermelon juice caused increased in weight, hypoglycemia; and increases in GSH, GPx, catalase, and SOD % inhibition activities with reduced MDA concentration after treatments.Conclusion:The watermelon juice resulted in the restoration of impaired conditions of the rats.

Potential roles of Citrulline and watermelon extract on metabolic and inflammatory variables in diabetes mellitus, current evidence and future directions: A systematic review

“…In this study, administering 0.5 g/kg L‐citrulline to high‐fat diet fed Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for 11 weeks could significantly decrease insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) . In a study by Oseni et al , feeding crude extracts of watermelon to diabetic Wistar albino rats for 1 week resulted in a significant decrease of glucose . Also, Okechukwu et al , reported a significant decrease in glucose level after 4 weeks of feeding extract of watermelon rind ( Citrullus lanatus ) mixed with guinea feed in a ratio of 3:1 to diabetic rats .…”

“…The effects of watermelon extract on oxidative stress have been reported in one study. Oseni et al reported a significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) and a significant increase in glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) percentage activity and a slight increase in catalase (CAT) activity after feeding diabetic Wistar rats with crude extracts of watermelon for one week …”

“…Actually, amplified oxidative stress and inflammation result in diminished insulin sensitivity, augmented insulin resistance, and impaired mitochondrial function . Studies on the effects of watermelon extract or citrulline on oxidative stress were inadequate; in the only available study, watermelon extract supplementation reduced the oxidizing index MDA, and caused significant increases in concentrations and activity of glutathione, CAT, SOD, and GPx . Also, TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐12 were reduced, but expression and plasma levels of IL‐10 were increased following citrulline supplementation .…”

“…A number of studies have examined the effects of citrulline and watermelon extract on NO synthesis, glycaemic status, lipid profile, oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes; however, no systematic review has appraised the findings in this field thus far, to the best of our knowledge. The purpose of the present study was to summarize the available data and compare the results of recent studies on the metabolic effects of citrulline and watermelon extract in diabetes.…”

“…40,41 Studies that examined the effect of citrulline on lipolysis showed that treatment with citrulline was effective in increasing basal lipolysis, reducing glyceroneogenesis, increasing palmitate oxidation in WAT explants, 42 and incrementing the expression of UCP1, PPAR and PGC1-α in young rats. 43 A number of studies have examined the effects of citrulline and watermelon extract on NO synthesis, glycaemic status, lipid profile, oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes [44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51] ; however, no systematic review has appraised the findings in this field thus far, to the best of our knowledge. The purpose of the present study was to summarize the available data and compare the results of recent studies on the metabolic effects of citrulline and watermelon extract in diabetes.…”