ANTIDIABETIC, ANTIATHEROSCLEROTIC AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF DECALEPIS HAMILTONII IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Decalepis root is consumed as ingredient in pickles and is a common ingredient in many of the ayurvedic preparation. Streptozotocin (STZ) is a potential source of oxidative stress that induces diabetes. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of Decalepis root extract (DRE) on antioxidant defence system in the body and other diabetic complications in rats. Rats were prefed with DRE (0.05 and 0.1%) and then injected with STZ (50 mg/kg bodyweight, i.p.). The results demonstrated that STZ injection lead to increased oxidation of tissue lipids apart from diabetic changes, decreased activities of the antioxidant enzymes causing liver and DNA damage. In rats, which were prefed with DRE, peroxidation of lipids was prevented to a significant level (heart 19%, kidney 42% and liver 88%). DRE protected the rats against STZ induced oxidative stress, reduced the risk of oxidative stress, DNA damage and ameliorated liver damage and diabetic condition. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The results obtained in this study clearly demonstrated that Decalepis root extract is plant-derived and nontoxic, it could be introduced in the cancer therapy regime in combination with conventional therapeutic agents, after some more detailed investigation. This extract could be used not only as food preservative (to replace for the toxic butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene currently under use) but also can be used in the preparation of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. Reactive oxygen species-mediated oxidative stress is now regarded as a major factor leading to degenerative diseases such as ageing, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis, diseases of the brain and nervous system and eye diseases such as cataract and age-related macular degeneration; a suitable antioxidant therapies with the extract could be one of the medicine to control these degenerative diseases. This study presents cost effective source of highly potent antioxidants that is safe and natural with antidiabetic, anti-atherosclerotic and hepatoprotective properties.