Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the role of Psidium cattleianum extract (PCE) and compare its effects with those of metformin (Met) in an animal model with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: T2DM was induced in rats using a high-fat diet (HFD), followed by a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ). Met and PCE were administered intragastrically once a day throughout the experiment, and their effects on biochemical, inflammatory, oxidative, and histological parameters were evaluated.Results: Met and PCE prevented the increase in serum levels of glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) induced by T2DM, and restored redox homeostasis in the liver and brain. Met increased the serum levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Furthermore, both treatments restored the liver and pancreas from marked cellular disorganisation, vacuolisation, and necrosis, with PCE being more effective than Met in recovering histological changes.Conclusion: PCE is a promising agent for the prevention of T2DM complications.
Keywords: Diabetes; animal model; metformin; oxidative stress; phenolic compounds.