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Effects of Polygonum cognatum Meissn. through modulation of hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress via Nrf-2/HO-1,
Eray Onay1, Betul Apaydın Yıldırım2, Serkan Yıldırım3
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Abstract:
The present study evaluated Polygonum cognatum extract (PCE) as a therapeutic agent for diabetes treatment. The research used twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats which weighed between 250-300 g and were 90 days old. The researchers distributed the 24 rats into four groups which included Control and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and PCE and DM + PCE. The DM and DM + PCE groups received streptozotocin (STZ) as a single dose to create diabetes in their animals. The solution of STZ required dissolution in a 0.1 M cold citrate buffer which had a pH of 4.5 before i.p. injection. The researchers administered PCE at a dose of 60 mg/kg. The researchers administered PCE through gavage at a daily dose of 10 mg/kg which patients received orally (p.o.) The rats received the treatment for 20 days. The researchers performed rat sacrifices to obtain blood samples and pancreas and liver tissue specimens. The diabetes group showed elevated liver enzyme levels and lipid profile parameters and malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to the Control and PCE groups. The diabetes group showed elevated MDA levels and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations together with reduced glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities. The combination of PCE with DM led to reduced glucose levels and decreased liver enzyme activity and lipid profile and MDA concentrations and elevated HDL-C and GSH levels and enhanced GPx and SOD and CAT activities. PCE downregulated the expression of caspase-3 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) associated X-protein (Bax) and toll like receptor 4 (TLR-4) but it increased the expression of Bcl-2 and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). The research showed that PCE treatment resulted in decreased blood sugar levels and better liver enzyme and lipid profile results and decreased lipid peroxidation and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities and reduced oxidative stress in DM rats according to biochemical and histopathological results.
Insights
Polygonum cognatum extract (PCE) effectively treats diabetes in rats by lowering blood sugar and improving liver health. PCE also reduces oxidative stress and enhances antioxidant enzyme activity, offering a promising natural therapeutic agent.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia.
- Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of DM.
- Natural compounds are being explored for their therapeutic potential in managing diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Polygonum cognatum extract (PCE) as a therapeutic agent for diabetes.
- To investigate the effects of PCE on oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzyme activities in diabetic rats.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: Control, Diabetes Mellitus (DM), PCE, and DM + PCE.
- Diabetes was induced using streptozotocin (STZ) injection.
- PCE was administered orally at 10 mg/kg daily for 20 days.
- Biochemical parameters, liver enzymes, lipid profiles, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and antioxidant enzyme activities (GPx, SOD, CAT) were assessed.
- Gene expression of apoptosis and antioxidant markers was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Diabetic rats exhibited elevated liver enzymes, lipid profile parameters, and MDA levels, with decreased HDL-C and GSH concentrations, and reduced GPx, SOD, and CAT activities.
- PCE treatment in diabetic rats significantly reduced glucose levels, liver enzymes, lipid profile, and MDA concentrations.
- PCE administration elevated HDL-C and GSH levels, and enhanced GPx, SOD, and CAT activities.
- PCE downregulated pro-apoptotic markers (caspase-3, Bax, NF-κB, TLR-4) and upregulated anti-apoptotic and antioxidant markers (Bcl-2, Nrf-2, HO-1).
Conclusions:
- Polygonum cognatum extract (PCE) demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in managing diabetes.
- PCE treatment improves glycemic control, lipid metabolism, and reduces oxidative stress in diabetic rats.
- PCE exerts its protective effects by modulating apoptotic pathways and enhancing the antioxidant defense system.
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