Evaluation of potential curative effects of curcumin versus metformin in experimentally-induced metabolic syndrome in rats

ABSTRACT

Metabolic syndrome [MetSyn] is an important public health concern that predisposes individuals to the development of cardiovascular diseases and/or type 2 diabetes [T2D]. In the present study the curative effect of curcumin, the active ingredient of spice turmeric, was assessed in comparison with metformin, the antidiabetic agent, against fructose-fed rats [FFR] model of MetSyn. Seven groups of rats were fed with 10% fructose solution in drinking water for 8 weeks. At the beginning of 9[th] week, the groups of rats received respectively once daily the vehicle [2% carboxy methyl cellulose, CMC], curcumin [40 and 80 mg/kg], metformin [100 and 200 mg/kg] and their combinations for additional 2 weeks. Moreover, another group received plain tap water instead of fructose [normal control group]. The results of this study demonstrated that fructose-feeding was coupled with insulin resistance [IR], impaired glucose tolerance [IGT] together with elevation in body and visceral fat weights. This was associated with elevation of arterial blood pressure [ABP]. Meanwhile, fructose-feeding produced alterations in lipid profile [triglyceride [TG], total cholesterol [TC], High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C] and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C]] and both oxidative stress [malondialdehyde [MDA], 8-iso-prostaglandin F[2 alpha] [8-iso-PGF[2 alpha]] and superoxide dismutase [SOD]] and inflammatory status [tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] interleukin- 6 [IL-6], C-reactive protein [CRP] and adiponectin] parameters. Administration of curcumin and metformin significantly ameliorated, to variable extents, the development of most signs of MetSyn. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the two drugs was augmented upon their coadministration. These curative effects of curcumin and metformin may probably be relevant to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities