Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Nyctanthes arbortristis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract:

Nyctanthes arbortristis is reported to have a wide range of biological activities such as antidiabetic, antipyretic, anthelmintic, antibilous, expectorant, laxative and is used for treatment of arthritis, obstinate, sciatica, malaria, intestinal worms and also as tonic. The qualitative test of the crude extract shown the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids. The study was aimed to find out the protective effect of Nyctanthes arbortristis on lipid peroxidation (LPO) and activity of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. The oxidative stress was measured in liver homogenate LPO, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) levels; blood serum levels of SGPT, SGOT, Alkaline phosphatase (Alk Phos) and cholesterol, triglyceride levels. The significant elevation in LPO, SGPT, SGOT, Alk Phos and cholesterol, triglyceride levels and decreased enzymatic activity of SOD, CAT were the salient features observed in diabetic control rats. Administration of Nyctanthes arbortristis leaves and flower chloroform extracts (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) orally for 27 days caused a significant reduction in LPO, SGPT, SGOT, Alk Phos, cholesterol and triglyceride levels on extracts treated STZ diabetic rats, compared to diabetic control rats. Further more Nyctanthes arbortristis extract treated diabetic rats showed significant increase in SOD and CAT enzymatic antioxidant activity when compared to diabetic control rats. The administration of the extracts and glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) improved the activity of both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants and lipid profile in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Key words: Diabetes, Nyctanthes arbortristis, lipid profile, Oxidative stress.