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Fisetin averts oxidative stress in pancreatic tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

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Abstract

Persistent hyperglycemia is associated with chronic oxidative stress which contributes to the development and progression of diabetes-associated complications. The sensitivity of pancreatic β-cells to oxidative stress has been attributed to their low content of antioxidants compared with other tissues. Bioactive compounds with potent antidiabetic properties have been shown to ameliorate hyperglycemia mediated oxidative stress. Recently, we have reported that oral administration of fisetin (10 mg/Kg b.w.), a bioflavonoid found to be present in strawberries, persimmon, to STZ-induced experimental diabetic rats significantly improved normoglycemia. The present study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of fisetin in both in vitro and in vivo. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight). Fisetin was administered orally for 30 days. At the end of the study, all animals were killed. Blood samples were collected for the biochemical estimations. The antioxidant status was evaluated. Histological examinations were performed on pancreatic tissues. Fisetin treatment showed a significant decline in the levels of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), NF-kB p65 unit (in pancreas) and IL-1β (plasma), serum nitric oxide (NO) with an elevation in plasma insulin. The treatment also improved the antioxidant status in pancreas as well as plasma of diabetic rats indicating the antioxidant potential of fisetin. In addition, the results of DPPH and ABTS assays substantiate the free radical scavenging activity of fisetin. Histological studies of the pancreas also evidenced the tissue protective nature of fisetin. It is concluded that, fisetin possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory property and may be considered as an adjunct for the treatment of diabetes.

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Abbreviations

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

AGEs:

Advanced glycation end products

DPPH-2,:

2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl

ABTS-2,:

2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt

DMSO:

Dimethyl sulphoxide

STZ:

Streptozotocin

HbAlc:

Glycosylated hemoglobin

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

CAT:

Catalase

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

GST:

Glutathione S transferase

GSH:

Reduced glutathione

NO:

Nitric oxide

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor κB

IL-1β:

Interleukin 1β

LSD:

Least significant difference

SD:

Standard deviation

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Acknowledgments

The Research Fellowship of the University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India, to Mr. G. Sriram Prasath is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also wish to record their sincere thanks to Mrs. Rita Rajan and Mr. P. Srinivasan, The Welcome Trust Research Laboratory, Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore 632 004, India, for their help in histopathological studies.

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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, 600 025, India

    Gopalan Sriram Prasath, Chinnakrishnan Shanmuga Sundaram & Sorimuthu Pillai Subramanian

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  1. Gopalan Sriram Prasath
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Prasath, G.S., Sundaram, C.S. & Subramanian, S.P. Fisetin averts oxidative stress in pancreatic tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Endocrine 44, 359–368 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-012-9866-x

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