Enhanced glycemic control, pancreas protective, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects by umbelliferon-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(2(I) → 1(II))-α-D-glucopyranoside in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of umbelliferon-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(2I → 1II)-α-D-glucopyranoside (UFD) from Aegle marmelos Corr. on serum glucose, lipid profile and free radical scavenging activity in normal and STZ (streptozotocin) induced diabetic rats.

Materials and methods: Diabetes was induced by single interperitoneal injecting of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, i.p.) in the rats. All the rats were divided into following groups; I - nondiabeteic, II - nondiabetic + UFD (40 mg/kg, p.o.), III - diabetic control, IV - UFD (10 mg/kg, p.o.), V - UFD (20 mg/kg, p.o.), VI - UFD (40 mg/kg) and VII - glibenclamide (10 mg/kg, p.o.). Serum glucose level and body weight were determined periodically. Biochemical parameter, antioxidant enzyme and histopathology study were performed on the day 28. Oral glucose tolerance test study was performed to identify the glucose utilization capacity.

Results: All the doses of UFD and glibenclamide decrease the level of serum glucose, glycated hemoglobin, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1-6-biphosphate and increased the level of plasma insulin, hexokinase. The UFD doses also showed effects on antioxidant enzymes viz. superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase which were significantly increased and the level of malonaldehyde was markedly decreased. Histologically study, focal necrosis, deposition of fats, increased the size of the intercalated disc were observed in the diabetic rat liver, kidney, heart and pancreas but was less obvious in treated groups. The mechanism of action of the UFD emerges to be due to increase the activity of antioxidant enzyme and secretion of pancreatic insulin.

Conclusion: Reduction in the FBG (fasting blood glucose), glycated hemoglobin, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1-6-biphosphate, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxides, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL levels and improvement in the level of the plasma insulin, hexokinase, HDL was observed by the UFD treated rats. The result indicates that UFD has anti-diabetic activity along with anti hyperlipidemic and antioxidant efficacy and provides a scientific rationale to be used as an Anti-diabetic agent.