Faculty Collaboration Database

Protective effect of red grape seeds proanthocyanidins against induction of diabetes by alloxan in rats. Pharmacol Res 2005 Sep;52(3):264-70

Date

06/01/2005

Pubmed ID

15925517

DOI

10.1016/j.phrs.2005.04.003

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-22144469767 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   163 Citations

Abstract

It has been documented that impaired homeostasis in diabetes mellitus is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species and depletion of the antioxidant defense systems. Natural grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSP) are potent free radical scavengers and hence provide significant protection against oxidative stress. Accordingly, the present study focused on investigating the possible protective role of GSP against free radical-mediated damage in pancreatic tissues of alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. The results revealed that oral administration of 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) (body weight) of GSP for 72 h significantly increased pancreatic glutathione (GSH) levels and inhibited the increase in lipid peroxidation caused by alloxan (p < 0.001). On the other hand, a significant reduction in pancreatic total nitrate/nitrite content (p < 0.001) was observed. Furthermore, GSP caused significant decline in the hyperglycemia induced by alloxan (p < 0.001). Such antihyperglycemic effect of GSP was accompanied by a significant increase in serum insulin levels in diabetic rats following 72 h of administration (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the study suggests that GSP are effective in ameliorating the damage to pancreatic tissue in experimental diabetes mellitus. Such effect may be related to their potent antioxidant properties as evidenced by the increase in pancreatic GSH and reduction of lipid peroxidation as well as total nitrate/nitrite levels.

Author List

El-Alfy AT, Ahmed AA, Fatani AJ

Author

Abir El-Alfy PhD Assistant Dean, Professor in the School of Pharmacy Administration department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Alloxan
Animals
Antioxidants
Blood Glucose
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental
Glutathione
Insulin
Lipid Peroxidation
Male
Nitrates
Nitrites
Pancreas
Proanthocyanidins
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Seeds
Vitis