Syringic acid, a novel natural phenolic acid, normalizes hyperglycemia with special reference to glycoprotein components in experimental diabetic rats

Objective To evaluate the antidiabetic effect of syringic acid, a natural phenolic compound on the levels of glycoprotein components in plasma and tissues of alloxan induced diabetic rats. Methods Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg b.w). Syringic acid (50 mg/kg b.w) was administered orally for 30 d. The effects of syringic acid on plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide, plasma and tissue glycoproteins were studied. Results Oral administration of syringic acid (50 mg/kg b.w) for 30 d positively modulates the glycemic status in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The levels of plasma glucose were decreased with significant increase of plasma insulin and C-peptide level. The altered levels of plasma and tissue glycoprotein components were restored to near normal. No significant changes were noticed in normal rats treated with syringic acid. Conclusions The present findings suggest that syringic acid can potentially ameliorate glycoprotein components abnormalities in addition to its antidiabetic effect in experimental diabetes, further clinical studies are required to evaluate the use of syringic acid as an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.