The effects of Cetraria islandica and Pseudevernia furfuracea extracts in normal and diabetic rats

Abstract

Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of a fungus joined to a photosynthesizing partner that can be either an alga or a cyanobacterium. They can be used as a novel bioresource for natural antioxidants. However, there is also a need for further studies to validate the lichens used in medicinal remedies. This study covers a previously unrecognized effects of Cetraria islandica (CIAE) and Pseudevernia furfuracea (PFAE) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. In experimental design, control or diabetic rats were either untreated or treated with aqueous lichen extracts (250-500 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks starting at 72 h after STZ injection. On day 14, animals were anesthetized, metabolic and biochemical parameters were appreciated between control and treatment groups. The histopathology of kidney was examined using four different staining methods: hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Masson trichrome and Congo red. Our experimental data showed that increasing doses of CIAE and PFAE did not have any detrimental effects on the studied parameters and the malondialdehyde level of kidney. CIAE extract showed prominent results compared to doses of PFAE extract for antioxidant capacity. However, the protective effect of CIAE extract was inadequate on diabetes-induced disorders and kidney damages. Moreover, animals subjected to diabetes mellitus (DM) therapy did not benefit unfortunately from the usage of increasing lichen doses due to their unchanged antioxidant activity to tissue. The results obtained in present study suggested that CIAE and PFAE are safe but the power of these is limited because of the intensive oxidative stress in kidney of type 1 diabetic rats. It is also implied that CIAE extract is especially suitable for different administration routes in DM.

Lichens in Pharmacological Action: What Happened in the Last Decade?

“…Previous studies 68 - 70 focused on possible anti-diabetic effects of Cetraria islandica and Pseudevernia furfuracea extracts in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Although investigators recommended low-dose C. islandica for early intervention in type 1 diabetes mellitus, the extracts did not improve diabetes-related parameters in rats.…”

The Genus Cetraria s. str.—A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses and Pharmacology

“…Moreover, the aqueous extract of Cetraria islandica decreased the total oxidative stress (TOS) and increased the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in streptozotocin-induced Diabetes Mellitus type 1 Sprague-Dawley rats [ 118 ]. Using the same model, the aqueous extract of Cetraria islandica (250–500 mg/kg/day) increased the levels of SOD, CAT and GSH, and reduced the levels of MDA [ 16 , 119 , 120 ]. Regarding neuroprotection studies, the protective role of Cetraria islandica and its isolated secondary metabolite fumarprotocetraric acid has been demonstrated in a hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress model on human U373MG astrocytoma cells and human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.…”

“…Moreover, consistent evidence has demonstrated various biological activities for Cetraria spp. extracts and its isolated secondary metabolites, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Some of these activities are correlated with its folk uses, but there are other activities of drug repurposing that have roused a renewed and growing interest in lichens as a promising source of novel therapeutic actions.…”

Anti-Proliferative and Apoptotic Effects of Methanolic Extracts from Different Cladonia Species on Human Breast Cancer Cells

“…Recent studies suggest that lichen species may constitute a natural bio source for the risk reduction of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, etc. (Behera et al, 2012;Bakir at al., 2013).…”