Assessment of the antidiabetic activity of epicatechin in streptozotocin-diabetic and spontaneously diabetic BB/E rats.
(-)-Epicatechin has previously been suggested to rapidly reverse alloxan diabetes in rats. We have assessed the therapeutic value of the compound in two further animal models of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, namely streptozotocin-diabetic rats and the spontaneously diabetic BB/E rat. There was no indication of a reversal of established diabetes in either the streptozotocin-diabetic or the spontaneously diabetic BB/E rats. Moreover, epicatechin also failed to halt the progression of the disease in prediabetic BB/E rats. Earlier claims of the potential use of epicatechin as an antidiabetic agent must therefore be treated with some caution.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains
D001578:Benzopyrans; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D002392:Catechin