Chilean pepper (Schinus polygamus) ameliorates the adverse effects of hyperglycaemia/dyslipidaemia in high fat diet/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rat model

Diabetes is a life-threatening metabolic disease marked by hyperglycaemia, endocrine system abnormalities, and aberrant lipid metabolic profiles. The study targeted to identify the phytochemical constituents of Schinus pol-ygamus leaf extract (SPLE) and evaluate its ameliorative effects on the oxidative stress and metabolic abnor-malities caused by high-fat diet (HFD) with low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) in male rats. The high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analysis of SPLE revealed identification of fourteen compounds of phenolic nature, such as gallic acid, catechin, methyl gallate, pentagalloyl-O-hexoside and cate-chin-O-hexoside. The type-2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) model was established by HFD and STZ (i.p; 30 mg/kg). The T2DM animals orally administrated two doses of SPLE (200 & 400 mg/kg b.w/day) or metformin (400 mg/ kg/day, orally) for one month. The extract dose-dependently enhanced the body weight gain, BMI, hepatorenal toxicity markers, hyperglycaemia, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin level, lipid peroxidation and dyslipidaemia of diabetic rats. It also improved insulin sensitivity and antioxidant defense system. Moreover, it modulated the levels of proinflammatory adipokines (adiponectin & leptin). Further, it downregulated inducible pro-inflammatory genes (NF-kappa B & iNOS mRNA expression). The present study elicited antihyperlipidemic, antihyperglycemic, anti-insulin resistance, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties of S. polygamus. Thereby, it could be a new adjuvant candidate in the T2DM management.

Automated summary

The study identified phytochemical constituents of Schinus polygamus leaf extract and evaluated its ameliorative effects on oxidative stress and metabolic abnormalities in diabetic rats induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin. The extract dose-dependently improved body weight gain, insulin resistance, lipid peroxidation, and inflammation while enhancing insulin sensitivity and antioxidant defense system, making it a potential adjuvant candidate in the management of type-2 diabetes.