ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND Diabetes is a metabolic disorder caused by defects in insulin production and activity. During disease progression, changes in lipid peroxidation cause structural modifications via production of free radicals. Fangchinoline is a well-known alkaloid present in Stephaniae tetrandrine S. Moore, which has demonstrated antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. RESULTS The present study analyzed the anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects of fangchinoline in male rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Rats were divided into the following groups: normal control, diabetic, diabetic + fangchinoline 100 mg/kg, diabetic + fangchinoline 200 mg/kg and diabetic + glibencla mide 600 mg/kg. The treatment was administered orally for 45 consecutive days. Lipid peroxidation was substantially increased by >50% in the serum, as well as the liver, kidney, and heart tissues of diabetic rats. However, fangchinoline supplementation significantly reduced lipid peroxidation to near normal levels. Reactive oxygen species levels were substantially increased by >500% in the serum, as well as the liver, kidney, and heart tissues of diabetic rats. Fangchinoline supplementation reduced reactive oxygen species to near normal levels. Fangchinoline supplementation significantly improved superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and reduced glutathione levels in diabetic rats. Total hexoses, sialic acid, hexosamines, and fucose were increased in diabetic rats, whereas fangchinoline supplementation significantly reduced these total hexoses, sialic acid, hexosamines, and fucose to near normal levels CONCLUSIONS Supplementation with fangchinoline led to significant attenuation of the levels of lipid peroxidation, ROS, and glycoprotein components such as total hexoses, hexosamines, sialic acid, and fucose, while improving antioxidant marker levels