Curculigo pilosa mitigates against oxidative stress and structural derangements in pancreas and kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundCurculigo pilosa(African crocus) is widely used in folklore medicine to treat diabetes mellitus and its associated complications. This study was carried out to evaluate this traditional claim by mechanistic investigation of the effect of corn steep liquor extract ofCurculigo pilosaand its n-butanol and methanol solvent fractions on hyperglycemia mediated oxidative damage in pancreas and kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.MethodsDiabetes mellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal administration of (50 mg/kg) streptozotocin and diabetic rats were treated orally with the extract(s) once in a day for 28 days. After experimental period, the effect of the extract(s) on hyperglycemia mediated oxidative stress was assessed by determination of lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes. Also histopathology studies were conducted to substantiate the protective effects on pancreas and kidney.ResultsOral administration of the extract significantly (p<0.05) mitigated the hyperglycemia mediated oxidative damage via improving the antioxidant system, inhibit the generation of lipid peroxide, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide. Also administration of extracts improved the structural architecture of the pancreas and kidney tissues in diabetic rats.ConclusionThe results obtained in this study provide resounding scientific support for the folkloric use ofCurculigo pilosain the management of diabetes mellitus and its complications.