Protective role of Sterculia tragacantha aqueous extract on pancreatic gene expression and oxidative stress parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVES The current study evaluates the protective role of aqueous extract of Sterculia tragacantha leaf (AESTL) on pancreatic gene expressions (insulin, PCNA, PDX-1, KI-67 and GLP-1R) and oxidative stress parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODS Diabetes mellitus was induced into the experimental Wistar animals via intraperitoneal (IP) injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg body weight) and 5% glucose water was given to the rats for 24 h after induction. The animals were categorized into five groups of 10 rats each as follows normal control, diabetic control, diabetic rats administered AESTL (150 and 300 mg/kg body weight) and diabetic rats administered metformin (200 mg/kg) orally for two weeks. Thereafter, the animals were euthanized, blood sample collected, pancreas harvested and some pancreatic gene expressions (such as insulin, PCNA, PDX-1, KI-67, and GLP-1R)s as well as oxidative stress parameters were analyzed. RESULTS The results revealed that AESTL significantly (p<0.05) reduced fasting blood glucose level, food and water intake, and lipid peroxidation in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats administered different doses of AESTL showed a substantial upsurge in body weight, antioxidant enzyme activities, and pancreatic gene expressions (insulin, PCNA, PDX-1, KI-67, and GLP-1R). CONCLUSIONS It can therefore be concluded that AESTL has the ability to protect the pancreas during diabetes mellitus conditions.