Brassinin Exhibits Anti-Diabetic Activity against Streptozotocin-induced Diabetes Mellitus in Experimental Rats

Abstract:

Background: Diabetes mellitus is among the most serious public health problems worldwide, whose incidence is steadily increasing and is now posing a global epidemic danger. Major secondary complications are associated with diabetes that impacts the normal functioning of major organs such as the pancreas, liver, kidney, and eye and is characterized by a high rate of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Indole phytoalexins such as Brassinin exhibit a variety of biological properties, including antimicrobial, oviposition stimulant, antitumor, and cytotoxic. Materials and Methods: The 35mg/kg STZ was intraperitoneally injected to the rats for stimulating the diabetes. Then rats were treated with 25mg/kg of brassinin. The Glibenclamide was used as a positive control. The impact of Brassinin on water and food uptake, body weight, and kidney and liver weight were assessed. The levels of blood glucose, insulin, and glycosylated Haemoglobin (HbA_1c), hepatic marker, carbohydrate metabolic enzymes, antioxidants, and inflammatory markers in untreated and treated rats were examined. The histological examination of the pancreas, kidney, and liver were also performed to understand the salutary properties of the Brassinin. Results: Brassinin and Glibenclamide treatment remarkably decreased the glucose and HbA_1c levels in diabetic rats, while the insulin levels were substantially elevated. They also increased the antioxidant enzymes in the STZ-stimulated rats and considerably decreased the inflammatory marker and hepatic marker enzyme levels. Histological observations established the protective potential of Brassinin on diabetes-associated injury in the pancreas, liver, and kidney. Conclusion: It can be inferred that Brassinin is an antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory compound that protects the liver, kidney, and pancreas during the onset of diabetes.

Keywords: Brassinin, Glycosylated haemoglobin, Oxidative stress, Inflammation, Glibenclamide.