Abstract

Objective: To find out the protective action of methanolic extract of Rhinacanthus nasutus (R. nasutus) on lipid peroxidation (LPO) activities and enzymatic antioxidants of liver in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Methods: Experimental diabetes was induced by a single dose of STZ (50 mg/kg) through intraperitoneal injection. The oxidative stress was measured by tissue LPO level and by enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver. Results: The raise in LPO levels with reduction in enzymatic activities was the outstanding features observed in diabetic control rats. Administration of R. nasutus (200 mg/kg body weight per day) for 30 days caused a significant reduction in LPO level in STZ induced diabetic rats (group IV) when compared with diabetic control rats (group III). Moreover, R. nasutus treated diabetic rats (group IV) showed significant increase in the activities of enzymatic antioxidants when compared to diabetic control rats (group III). Conclusions: The results obtained specify the ameliorating effects of R. nasutus in the role of oxidative stress created in the experimental diabetic rats.

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