Effects of Punica granatum Flowers on Carbohydrate Metabolizing Enzymes, Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidants Status in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

摘要

The mechanistic pathway for the antidiabetic efficacy of ethanolic extract of Punica granatum flowers(PgEFet) has been investigated by measuring the status of blood glucose, plasma insulin, carbohydrate metabolizingenzymes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants as biochemical end points in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Diabetesmellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50mg/kg b.w) in albino Wistar rats. Oraladministration of PgEFet (400mg/kg b.w) by gastric gavage to diabetic animals significantly reduced the level of bloodglucose and increased the level of plasma insulin as well as reverted the disturbed activities of carbohydrate metabolizingenzymes to near normal pattern. Also, PgEFet exhibited potent anti-lipid peroxidative and antioxidant function in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats. The present study thus concludes that the antidiabetic efficacy of Punica granatum flowersin streptozotocin induced diabetic rats relies on its modulating effect on carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes as well as itsanti-lipid peroxidative and antioxidant potential.