Protective effect of ferulic acid and resveratrol against alloxan-induced diabetes in mice.

The present study was to investigate the effect of ferulic acid and resveratrol on alloxan-induced diabetic mice, through analysis of basic biochemical parameters, enzymic as well as non-enzymic activities, lipid peroxidation and immunohistochemical studies. Alloxan was administered as a single dose (75 mg/kg body weight) to induce diabetes in mice. A dose of ferulic acid (10 mg/kg body weight) and resveratrol (20 mg/kg body weight) were administrated orally, to the alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The levels of basic biochemical markers and lipid peroxidation were significantly (P<0.05) increased in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The levels of antioxidants were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in liver, kidney and serum. Immunohistochemical studies in alloxan induced mice demonstrated a marked increase in the immunoreactivity of nuclear transcription factor (NF-κB). Treating the diabetic mice with doses of ferulic acid and resveratrol restored the changes in the above parameters analyzed. The present study, showed that ferulic acid and resveratrol exerted antioxidant as well as anti-diabetic effects, consequently alleviate liver, kidney and pancreas damage caused by alloxan-induced diabetes, probably through inhibition of the proinflammatory factor, NF-κB.

Ameliorative effects of curcumin against renal injuries mediated by inducible nitric oxide synthase and nuclear factor kappa B during gentamicin-induced toxicity in Wistar rats.

The ameliorative role of curcumin in attenuating gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity has been reported earlier however, the mechanism of action remains unclear. Gentamicin was injected intraperitoneally (100 mg/kg body weight) once daily for 6 days. Curcumin was administered orally (200 mg/kg body weight) once daily for 7, 15 and 30 days. Gentamicin-induced rats showed significant increase in the levels of kidney markers and the activities of urinary marker enzymes, which was reversed upon curcumin treatment. A significant increase in kidney lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were observed in gentamicin-induced rats. Immunohistochemical, Western blot and RT-PCR studies in gentamicin-induced rats also demonstrated an increase in the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). All these effects induced by gentamicin were reduced upon treatment with curcumin in a time dependent manner. To conclude, curcumin enhances antioxidants, and decreases iNOS and NF-κB, thereby protecting the cells against oxidative stress induced by gentamicin.