Effect of dietary supplementation of Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) leaf on high fat diet/streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats' brain and platelets.

Abstract Background This study investigated the effects of Padauk leaf on brain malondialdehyde (MDA) content, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, ectonucleotidases and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities in the platelet of high fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods The animals were divided into six groups ( n  = 7): normal control rats; diabetic rats + high fat diet (HFD); diabetic rats + HFD + Metformin; diabetic rats + HFD + acarbose; diabetic rats + HFD + 10% Padauk leaf; normal rats + basal diet + 10% Padauk leaf. After 30 days of experiment comprising of acclimatization, dietary manipulation, pre-treatment with STZ and supplementation with Padauk leaf, the animals were sacrificed and the rats’ brain and blood were collected for subsequent analysis. Results The results demonstrated that the elevated MDA content and AChE activity in the diabetic rats were significantly reduced when compared with the control rats. Furthermore, the increased NTPDases, 5′-nucleotidase and ADA activities in the diabetic rats were significantly reduced when compared with the control rats. Conclusion This study demonstrated that Padauk leaf exhibited modulatory effects on purinergic and cholinergic enzymes involved in the prevention of platelet abnormality and consequent vascular complications in diabetic state.