Protective Effects of Morus alba Leaves Extract on Ocular Functions of Pups from Diabetic and Hypercholesterolemic Mother Rats

Abstract

Phytotherapy is frequently considered to be less toxic and free from side effects than synthetic drugs. Hence, the present study was designed to investigate the protective use of crude water extract of Morus alba leaves on ocular functions including cataractogenesis, biochemical diabetic and hypercholesterolemic markers, retinal neurotransmitters and retinopathy of rat pups maternally subjected to either diabetes and/or hypercholesterolemia. Application of crude water extract of Morus alba resulted in amelioration of the alterations of maternal serum glucose, LDL, HDL, total cholesterol and creatine phosphokinase activity as well as retinal neurotransmitters including acetylcholine (ACE), adrenaline (AD), nor-adrenaline (NAD), serotonin (5-HT), histamine (HS), dopamine (DA) and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). The retina of pups of either diabetic and/or hypercholesterolemia mothers exhibited massive alterations of retinal neurotransmitters. The alterations of retinal neurotransmitters were correlated with the observed pathological alterations of retinal pigmented epithelium, photoreceptor inner segment and ganglion cells and increased incidence of DNA fragmentation and apoptosis cell death. However, protection with Morus alba extract led to amelioration of the pathological alterations of retinal neurons and estimated neurotransmitters. Furthermore, a striking incidence of cataract was detected in pups of either diabetic and/or hypercholesterolemic mothers. Highest cataractogenesis was observed in pups of combined -treated groups. Our data indicate that experimental maternal diabetes alone or in combination with hypercholesterolemia led to alteration in the ocular structures of their pups, with an increasing incidence of cataract and retinopathy, and the effects of the extract might be attributed to the hypoglycaemic, antihypercholesterolemic and anti-oxidative potential of flavonoids, the major components of the plant extract.

Ameliorative effects of Lipitor against hypercholesterolemia-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and their breast-feeding young

“…Similar findings of deformities of epiphyseal cartilage was reported by El-Sayyad et al (2010& 2015 who found reduction in long bone ossification and retarded differentiation of chondrification and osteoblast differentiation in rat foetus maternally fed on hypercholesterolemic diet.…”

Hypoglycemic Effects of Morus alba Leaf Extract on Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Treated with Sulfonylurea Hypoglycemic Agents

“…Blood glucose and insulin levels are also important for preventing oxidative stress in intravascular endothelial cells, and atherosclerosis. LEM has demonstrated a suppressive effect on atherosclerotic lesions in mice [7] and the protective effect on vascular system through the decreasing of oxidative stress and anti-glycation [18][19][20], suggesting that it should form part of the dietary therapy for type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus, and for other metabolic syndromes.…”

“…LEM does not directly stimulate insulin secretion, and suppress the glucose elevation. Furthermore, it improves anti-oxidative and anti-glycation activities in streptozotocin-induced chronic diabetic rat [18], also has the protective effects on vascular system in rats fed atherogenic diet [19], and on ocular functions in pups from diabetic mother rat [20]. So, the combinational use of SU-treatment and LEM is associated with the protection of systemic oxidative stress.…”

Dut Yaprağından Elde Edilen Flavonoidler ile Candida Tropicalis’in Buzağılarda Performans ve Besin Sindirilebilirliği Üzerine Etkileri

“…Sainfoin which contains rich condensed tannins can increase beneficial fatty acids and reduce skatole content in lamb meat [7] . Flavonoids from mulberry leaves (FML) have positive effects on the hypoglycaemic, antihypercholesterolemic and anti-oxidative potential in rats [8] .…”