Effects of Benincasa Hispida Seed Supplementation on Glycogen Status and Lipid Peroxidation in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to examine the effects of diets containing different levels of seeds of Benincasa hispida(wax gourd) on glycogen, protein levels and lipid profiles as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes mellitus by STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into four groups normal, STZ-control, and two experimental groups. Normal and STZ-control groups were fed the AIN-93 diet and the two experimental groups were fed a modified diet containing 2.5% and 5.0% of wax gourd seed powder for four weeks. The liver, muscle, lung, kidney, and pancreas were excised after sacrifice, then the glycogen, protein, and lipid peroxidation products were measured. The rats fed 2.5% wax gourd seed group showed higher levels of liver glycogen compared with that of the STZ-control group. The levels of kidney protein were significantly increased in the 2.5% and 5.0% wax gourd seed groups. There were no significant difference cholesterol and liver triglyceride levels of the liver and MDA concentration in the liver, lung, and kidney among all four groups. These results show that wax gourd seed treatment of 2.5% and 5.0% doses did not exhibit profound anti-lipid peroxidation properities.