RESUMO
The purpose of the present investigation is to assess, for the first time, the antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of Lycium europaeum extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in adult male Wistar rats via a single subcutaneous alloxan injection (120 mg/kg). Lycium europaeum aqueous extract was orally administered at a dose of 20 mg/kg for 28 consecutive days. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were assayed at the end of the experimental period in all investigated groups. Antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were sought in the serum and pancreas. Lycium europaeum extract significantly increased HDL-C and reduced blood glucose, TC, LDL-C and TG as compared to the alloxan-control group. Lycium europaeum extract was also efficient in reducing oxidative stress in diabetic rats by increasing SOD, CAT and GPx activities both in the pancreas and the plasma of the animals. Moreover, Lycium europaeum extract contained considerable levels of polyphenols and flavonoids. It also exhibited an important antioxidant capacity and a remarkable ability to quench DPPH radicals and reduce irons. The obtained results highlight potentially relevant health beneficial effects of Lycium europaeum extract, reversing hyperglycemic, hyperlipidemic and oxidative stress effects in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes. Therefore, it may be considered as a promising alternative or complementary agent to diabetes treatment.
RESUMO
ABSTRACT About 31 percent of deaths worldwide result from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Hyperlipidemia remains the major risk factor for this disease and therefore, it is necessary to identify antihyperlipidemic compounds for drug development. The crude ethanolic extract of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schltr., Apocynaceae, has demonstrated antihyperlipidemic properties. However, the chemical constituents responsible for this action are unknown. Hence, to identify chemical constituent(s) of C. sanguinolenta with anti-hyperlipidemic effect, five indoloquinoline alkaloids were isolated and evaluated in 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanine perchlorate labeled low density lipoprotein uptake assay using HepG2 cells. The minor alkaloid, isocryptolepine, showed strong activity in promoting low lipid lipoprotein uptake by 1.85-fold. Isocryptolepine may, therefore, serve as a lead compound for future studies in the development of novel antihyperlipidemic drugs.
RESUMO
The hypoglycemic effects of hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts from fruits of Ferocactus latispinus and Ferocactus histrix were evaluated by oral administration to normoglucemic and streptozotocin-induced severe diabetic rats (SD). The anti-diabetic effect was examined by blood glucose, triglycerides, lipid peroxidation, total cholesterol levels in the serum, glycogen content of liver and skeletal muscles, superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) levels. The most active extracts were obtained with chloroform. Chloroform extracts from F. latispinus and F. histrix increased activities of SOD, GR, GSHPx and CAT, hepatic glycogen content, glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and the plasma insulin levels. They also, decreased glucokinase (GK) and TBAR (thiobarbituric acid assay). Of the two plants studied F. latispinus showed better antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects that F. histrix. In conclusion F. latispinus and F. histrix possesses significant antihyperglycemic properties after 4 h after a single oral dose. It can also improve hyperlipidemia and hypoinsulinemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic. These results demonstrated that F. latispinus and F. histrix typically used as a health food, has strong antidiabetic effects in vivo, thus, it may have beneficial properties in the prevention of diabetes.
Los efectos hipoglucemiantes de extractos obtenidos con hexano, cloroformo y metanol a partir de frutos de Ferocactus latispinus y Ferocactus histrix fueron evaluados por la administración oral a ratas normales y con diabetes severa (SD) inducida por estreptozotocina. Los extractos más activos fueron obtenidos con cloroformo el cuál incrementa los niveles de SOD, GR, GSHPx y el CAT, el contenido de glucógeno hepático, la glucosa-6-fosfatasa (G6Pase) y los niveles de insulina plasmática. También producen disminución de la glucoquinasa (GK) y TBARS. De las dos plantas estudiadas la F. latispinus presento mayor actividad antihiperglicemiante y antihiperlipidémicos que la F. histrix. En conclusión F. latispinus y F. histrix pueden mejorar la hiperlipidemia y la hipoinsulinemia en animales diabéticos inducida por estreptozotocina. Estos resultados demostraron que F. latispinus y F. histrix utilizadas normalmente como un alimento saludable, tiene fuertes efectos antidiabéticos in vivo, por lo tanto, pueden tener propiedades beneficiosas en la prevención de la diabetes.