Effect of Scrophularia ningpoensis extract on diabetes in rats

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Scrophularia ningpoensis extract (SNE) on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: SNE was obtained by steeping the dried Scrophularia ningpoensis in water at 60 oC three times, each for 1 h, before first drying in an oven at 100 oC and then freeze-drying the last extract thus obtained. Diabetic rats were prepared by a single intraperitoneal injection of a freshly prepared solution of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of ten rats each: negative control group, control group, reference group (glibenclamide1 mg/kgbody weight) as well as SNE groups, (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg). Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were evaluated in order to determine antihyperglycemic effect. Oxidative stress was evaluated in liver and kidney by antioxidant markers, viz, lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT); blood serum levels of creatinine and urea were determined in both diabetic control and treated rats. Results: Compared with diabetic rats, oral administration of SNE at a concentration of 200 mg/kg daily for 30 days showed a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose to 120.21 ± 3.37 mg/dL (p < 0.05) and increased insulin level to 13.31 ± 0.67 uU/mL (p < 0.05). Furthermore, it significantly reduced biochemical parameters (serum creatinine, 0.86 ± 0.24 mg/dL, p < 0.05) and serum urea (41.86 ± 1.59 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that SNE may effectively normalize impaired antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in a dose-dependent manner. SNE has a protective effect against lipid peroxidation by scavenging free radicals and is thus capable of reducing the risk of diabetic complications.