Cissus quadrangularis extract attenuates hyperglycaemia-mediated oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE

Hyperglycaemia-mediated oxidative stress plays a major role in the progression of diabetic complications. This study was aimed at evaluating the beneficial effects of Cissus quadrangularis stem extract on antioxidant/oxidant status in diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

The antioxidant activities of an ethyl acetate fraction of Cissus quadrangularis stem (CQSF) at three different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight) were evaluated in rats with experimentally induced diabetes. High performance liquid chromatography analysis was carried out to identify the active components present in the plant fraction.

RESULTS

Induction of diabetes caused deleterious effects including hyperglycaemia, liver dysfunction, significant decline in antioxidants and elevated lipid peroxidation indices. C. quadrangularis supplementation significantly improved insulin sensitivity, reduced liver damage, and oxidative changes, and brought back the antioxidants towards normal. Histopathological analysis of the liver also reinforced our findings. Pronounced changes were observed at the doses 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. In addition, high performance liquid chromatography analysis of C. quadrangularis fraction revealed the presence of quercetin.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests an anti-diabetic potential of CQSF, mediated through the modulation of the antioxidant defence system. The ethyl acetate fraction of Cissus quadrangularis is rich in quercetin and this indicates that the supplementation of CQSF might be beneficial as a food supplement for the attenuation of diabetic complications.