Effects of Fractions of Benincasa hispida on Antioxidative Status in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to examine the effects of fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) on hepatic antioxidative status 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 5 groups normal, STZ-control, three experimental diabetic groups. Fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida were administered orally into the diabetic rats for 14 days. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity (determined with H2O2 as substrate) was increased in the groups supplemented with chloroform (CHCl3) and butanol (BuOH) fractions. Glutathione peroxidase (GR) activity in the liver cytosol of H2O fraction groups was significantly lower than that of STZ-control group. The H2O fraction supplemented group has been shown the notably decrease in the hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The hepatic cytosol catalase (CAT) activity was significant decreased by the supplementation with BuOH fraction. It was found from the results that the supplementation of BuOH and H2O fractions of Benincasa hispida extract could be beneficial for the diabetic complications and damages from the lipid peroxidation.