Background: Ethanolic extract of Euryale ferox salisb. (EFx) may have an effect on the activity of hepatic antioxidant enzymes, glycemic control and lipid profile and histopathology of pancreas, liver and kidney of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic wistar rats.
Methods: Wistar albino rats were divided into eight groups viz. non-diabetic (normal control), diabetic control (STZ-induced), diabetic treated (infused with different doses of Euryale ferox. Salisb. ethanolic extract) and diabetic conventional treated (treated with Glibenclamide). Diabetes was induced by administering streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneal (i.p). The ethanolic extract was supplemented in different doses through oral route. Biochemical investigations were carried out according to previously reported methods. Histopathological examinations were done accordingly.
Results: The EFx supplemented diabetic rats significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the blood glucose level in a dose dependent manner. Plasma insulin level was significantly increased in EFx treated rats. The hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes activities were restored to normal in EFx treated rats. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were significantly increased (p < 0.001) among EFx treated rats. Lipid profile was reinstated to nearly normal level among EFx treated rats. Histopathological investigations revealed that microscopic architecture of pancreatic, hepatic and renal cells improvised in EFx treated diabetic rats.
Conclusion: EFx supplement could improve the glycemic control as well as lipid profile in diabetic rats along with improvised antioxidant enzymes which has beneficial effect in preventing the diabetic complications by scavenging the free radicals in diabetic rats.
Keywords: Euryale ferox salisb. diabetes; Hyperlipidemia; Oxidative stress.