Phytochemical characterization of the Vochysia rufa (Vochysiaceae) extract and its effects on oxidative stress in the pancreata of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Aqueous extract of macerated Vochysia rufa stem bark has been commonly used in the treatment of diabetes. Therefore, we evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of an extract of V. rufa on the pancreata of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Animals received one of the following treatments daily by oral gavage: water (diabetic-control), V. rufa extract (diabetic-V. rufa), or glibenclamide (diabetic-GBD). Total antioxidant capacity; levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, reduced glutathione, and sulfhydryls; and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were measured in the pancreas. Biochemical analysis of serum total cholesterol and fractions, triglycerides, creatinine, urea, acid uric, ALP, γ-GT, AST, and ALT was performed, and pancreatic β-cells positive for insulin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Rats treated with extract exhibited a decrease in fasting blood glucose compared with levels in diabetic control rats. GPx activity and sulfhydryl levels were significantly lower in diabetic-V. rufa rats compared with those of diabetic-control rats. V. rufa extract acted to normalize the biochemical alterations found in diabetic rats (diabetic-controls), as demonstrated by increases in urea, HDL, ALP, AST, and ALT. Reduction in blood glucose was independent of an increase in insulin. The V. rufa extract was found to be composed of free sugars (inositol, galactose, glucose, mannose, sucrose, arabinose, and ribose) as the main metabolites. Thus, aqueous extract of the stem bark of V. rufa is capable of reducing blood glucose, resulting in an antioxidant effect on the pancreatic tissue of STZ-diabetic rats.

The effect of folic acid administration on cardiac tissue matrix metalloproteinase activity and hepatorenal biomarkers in diabetic rats

“…Our results showed that serum renal parameters, urea and creatinine concentrations, changed in the tested groups. Other researchers demonstrated increase in the level of serum urea and creatinine in the diabetic animals (Latifi et al 2019;Saeed et al 2008;de Gouveia et al 2017;Xue et al 2017;Chayarop et al 2017). In our research DM did not increase the serum creatinine level, but its level was increased in the group of diabetic rats treated with folic acid.…”

Vochysia rufa and glibenclamide promote effects on oxidative damage and in proteins implicated in vesicular trafficking in diabetic rat brain

“…The gender Vochysia has abundant polyphenols and triterpenes 38 with antidiabetic properties, 39 but the total polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins content were only recently revealed for Vochysia rufa ethanolic extract of stem bark. Moraes et al 17 and Gouveia et al 18 using the same aqueous extract of the present study concluded that hepatic and pancreatic oxidative stress, respectively, caused by streptozotocin-induced diabetes, reduced after treatment. Moreover, Gouveia et al 40 revealed partial composition of Vochysia rufa stem bark and its effect against oxidative damage in endothelial cells, and in the Vochysia rufa extract was found to be composed of free sugars (inositol, galactose, glucose, mannose, sucrose, arabinose, and ribose) as the main metabolites.…”

Vochysia rufa Stem Bark Extract Protects Endothelial Cells against High Glucose Damage

“…Inositol, galactose, glucose and mannose with m / z of 179; sacarose with m / z of 341; arabinose and ribose with m / z of 149 have been previously identified in the extract. LC-MS analyses also suggested the presence of phenolic compounds of flavonoid type [ 15 , 20 ].…”