ABSTRACT
Aims: The study investigated the in vivo antioxidant activity and the in vitro radical scavenging capacity of the Combretum lanceolatum Pohl (Combretaceae) flowers ethanolic extract (ClEtOH) in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil; between February 2012 and December 2012. Methodology: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Normal rats treated with water/vehicle (N); diabetic rats treated with water (DC); diabetic rats treated with 250 mg/kg (DT250) or with 500mg/kg (DT500) of ClEtOH. After 21 days of treatment, liver samples were used for the analysis of the oxidative stress biomarkers and activity of antioxidant enzymes. In vitro radical scavenger capacity was investigated by the following methods: DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical cation decolorization and crocin bleaching assays. Results: Significant oxidative stress was observed in liver of DC, since the malondialdehyde (MDA, biomarker of lipoperoxidation) levels were increased in comparison with N. Increased activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were also observed in DC, which could represent a compensatory mechanism against oxidative stress. Glutathione (GSH) levels were lower and similar between N and DC. The MDA levels were significantly decreased in liver of rats from DT250 and DT500, reaching levels similar those of N, suggesting that ClEtOH prevented lipoperoxidation. The treatment of diabetic rats with ClEtOH also increased the GSH levels, as well as increased the GSH-Px activity, and did not change the SOD activity. The results of in vitro radical scavenging capacity indicated that ClEtOH is highly active. Conclusion: These findings indicate that ClEtOH has antioxidant properties in liver of diabetic rats, decreasing lipoperoxidation and increasing the endogenous antioxidant responses. Both the antihyperglycemic effect and the capacity to scavenge free radicals may be related to the antioxidant activity of ClEtOH in diabetes.
ABSTRACT
The present study evaluated the antidiabetic activity of the Combretum lanceolatum Pohl ex Eichler, Combretaceae, flowers extract (ClEtOH) in diabetic rats. Streptozotocin-diabetic rats were divided into four groups: diabetic control, diabetic treated with 500 mg/kg of metformin and diabetic treated with 250 or 500 mg/kg of ClEtOH for 21 days. The treatment of diabetic rats with 500 mg/kg of ClEtOH promoted an increase in the weight of liver, white adipose tissues and skeletal muscles, improving body weight gain. Diabetic rats treated with 500 mg/kg of ClEtOH also presented reduction in glycemia, glycosuria and urinary urea levels, and increase in liver glycogen content. HPLC chromatogram showed that quercetin is the major compound in the extract. The phosphorylation levels of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase were increased in liver slices incubated in vitro with 50 µg/mL of ClEtOH, similarly to the incubation with metformin (50 µg/mL) or quercetin (10 µg/mL). The antihyperglycemic effect of ClEtOH was similar to that of metformin and appears to be through inhibition of gluconeogenesis, since urinary urea was reduced and skeletal muscle mass was increased. These data indicate that the antidiabetic activity of the Combretum lanceolatum extract could be mediated, at least in part, through activation of adenosine monophosphateactivated protein kinase by quercetin.