ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the effects of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract (MOLE) plus rosiglitazone (RSG) on glucose and lipid metabolism, serum leptin, and the Akt/GSK3ß/ß-Catenin signaling pathway in type 2 diabetic (T2D) rats. Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal group, the model group, the RSG group, the low- and high-dose MOLE group, and the MOLE+RSG group. The normal group was fed a standard rat diet, while the other groups were given a single intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozomycin (STZ) (35 mg/kg) and fed a high-sugar and high-fat diet. After 8 weeks, the treatment outcomes were evaluated by measuring key parameters of blood glucose and lipid metabolism and the protein kinase B (AKT) / Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3ß) /ß-Catenin signaling pathway in the T2D rats. Results: Compared with the normal group, the model group showed significantly increased levels of blood glucose, blood lipids, serum leptin, free fatty acid (FFA), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Compared with the model group, the RSG, low-dose MOLE, and high-dose MOLE groups displayed effective control of blood glucose, blood lipids, serum leptin, FFA, and TNF-α. The MOLE+RSG group surpassed the RSG group in regulating glucose, lipid metabolism, and serum leptin levels in T2D rats. In addition, the MOLE+RSG group also had superiority over the RSG group in activating the AKT/GSK3ß/ß-Catenin pathway. Conclusion: MOLE plus RSG can effectively reduce blood glucose and blood lipids in T2DM rats.
