Main Article Content
Anti-diabetic activity of aqueous extract of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi in a rat model of type 2 diabetes
Abstract
Purpose: To determine the anti-diabetic activity of an aqueous extract of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) in a rat model of type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Method: Body weight (BW), food intake (FI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glucose tolerance testing and insulin tolerance testing were used to determine the anti-diabetic activity of an aqueous extract of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced T2D. Anti-oxidant activity and oxidative stress were assessed by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) analyses, respectively.
Results: Following FLL extract treatment, diabetic rat BW increased, while FI and FBG levels decreased. FLL extract increased glucose tolerance and decreased insulin tolerance. Following treatment with 300 and 600 mg/kg FLL extract, MDA levels reached 13.5 ± 0.9 nmol/ml and 13.8 ± 1.1 nmol/ml, respectively. Compared to MDA levels of 19.5 ± 1.1 nmol/ml in diabetic control group, MDA levels was decreased by 30.8 % and 29.0 % after the treatment with 300 and 600 mg/kg FLL extract, respectively, indicating alleviated oxidative stress.
Conclusion: The results show that aqueous FLL extract has the potential to alleviate T2D, resulting in reduced FI and FBG, and increased BW. The anti-diabetic activity of FLL extract on T2D may be relevant to reduced oxidative stress burden.
Keywords: Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, Type 2 diabetes, Anti-oxidant activity, Glucose tolerance, Insulin tolerance, Anxiety-like behaviour