title: Ferulic acid alleviates lipid peroxidation in diabetic rats.
abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder associated with increased formation of free radicals. The objective of our study was to determine whether ferulic acid (FA), a phenolic acid, has any role to play in diabetes induced free radical formation. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin. The levels of blood glucose, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), hydroperoxides and free fatty acids (FFA) increased in the liver of diabetic animals. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) decreased in the liver. Histopathology of pancreas also shows shrunken islets. Supplementation of FA to the diabetic rats resulted in a decrease in the levels of glucose, TBARS, hydroperoxides, FFA and an increase in reduced glutathione (GSH). FA also resulted in increased activities of SOD, CAT, GPx and expansion of pancreatic islets. The effect was much pronounced with lower dose treatment. Thus our study shows that administration of ferulic acid helps in enhancing the antioxidant capacity of these diabetic animals by neutralizing the free radicals formed thereby reducing the intensity of diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar-608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: M Sri
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Balasubashini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rukkumani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viswanathan
authors.forename: Venugopal P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Menon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D013311:Streptozocin; C004999:ferulic acid; D005978:Glutathione