Inhibitory effects of estrogens on digestive enzymes, insulin deficiency, and pancreas toxicity in diabetic rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus, with its attendant disorders and dysfunctional behaviors, constitutes a growing concern to the population of the world. With this concern in mind, the present study investigated the anti-diabetic and hypolipedimic potential of 17β-estradiol (called E2), particularly in terms of its inhibitory effects on maltase, sucrase, lactase, and lipase activities in the intestine of surviving diabetic rats. The findings revealed that this supplement helped protect the β cells of the rats from death and damage. Interestingly, E2 induced considerable decreases of 29%, 46%, 42%, and 84% in the activities of intestinal maltase, lactase, sucrase, and lipase, respectively. The E2 extract also decreased the glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol rates in the plasma of diabetic rats by 39%, 27%, and 53%, respectively, and increased the HDL-cholesterol level by 74%, which helped maintain the homeostasis of blood lipid. When compared to those of the untreated diabetic rats, the superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase levels in the pancreas of the rats treated with this supplement were also enhanced by 330%, 170%, and 301%, respectively. A significant decrease was also observed in the lipid peroxidation level and lactate dehydrogenase activity in the pancreas of diabetic rats after E2 administration. Overall, the findings presented in this study demonstrate that E2 has both a promising potential with regard to the inhibition of intestinal maltase, sucrase, lactase, and lipase activities, and a valuable hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic function, which make it a potential strong candidate for industrial application as apharmacological agent for the treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.

Hypoglycemic and antilipidemic properties of kombucha tea in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

“…This was indicative of lowered levels of absorbable glucose being formed from the digestion of carbohydrate and leading to reduced levels of blood glucose. The inhibition of pancreatic α-amylase activity in the human digestive tract represents one of the therapeutic approaches commonly used for the control and prevention of postprandial hyperglycemia in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients through reducing the uptake of glucose released by those enzymes from starch [42,43]. …”

Inhibitory potential of omega-3 fatty and fenugreek essential oil on key enzymes of carbohydrate-digestion and hypertension in diabetes rats

“…induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared alloxan solution in normal saline at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight [5]. The rats were then kept for the next 24 hr on 5% glucose solution bottles in their cages to prevent hypoglycemia.…”

“…It is generally recognized that patients with diabetes are at risk for numerous severe complications, including diabetic obesity, hyperlipidemia and hypertension [3-5]. In this respect, many synthetic α-amylase and maltase inhibitors have been reported to reduce plasma glucose and lipid levels via delaying glucose absorption and retarding the liberation of glucose from oligosaccharides and disaccharides from dietary complex carbohydrates [6].…”

The diversity of sex steroid action: regulation of metabolism by estrogen signaling

“…The decrease in plasma LDL is a result of increased hepatic LDL receptor expression, which increases the clearance of plasma LDL and the secretion of cholesterol into the bile. A recent publication shows that estrogen-treated diabetic rats display a reduced lipase activity resulting in decreased total cholesterol concentration by 53% while the HDL cholesterol levels increased, contributing to a favorable blood lipid homeostasis (Hamden et al 2011). This could partly be explained by increased gene expression levels of the ATP binding cassette A1, the key enzyme in the reverse cholesterol process where cholesterol is incorporated into HDL particles.…”