Quercitrin, a bioflavonoid improves glucose homeostasis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic tissues by altering glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzymes.
The present study is an investigation into the role of quercitrin on carbohydrate metabolism in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Administration of STZ leads to a significant increase (P < 0.05) in fasting plasma glucose and a decrease in insulin levels. The content of glycogen is significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in liver and muscle, but increased in the kidney. The activity of hexokinase decreased whereas the activities of glucose 6-phosphatase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the tissues. Oral administration of quercitrin (30 mg/kg) to diabetic rats for a period of 30 days resulted in significant (P < 0.05) alterations in the parameters studied but not in normal rats. A decrease of plasma glucose and increase in insulin levels were observed along with the restoration of glycogen content and the activities of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes in quercitrin-treated diabetic rats. The histopathological study of the pancreas revealed the protective role of quercitrin. There was an expansion of the islets and decreased fatty infiltrate of the islets in quercitrin treated diabetic rats. In normal rats treated with quercitrin, we could not observe any significant change in all the parameters studied. Combined, these results show that quercitrin plays a positive role in carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidant status in diabetic rats.
Babujanarthanam
Ranganathan
R
Department of Biochemistry, K.M.G College of Arts and Science, Gudiyatham, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu 632 602, India.
Kavitha
Purushothaman
P
Pandian
Moses Rajasekara
MR
D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005943:Gluconeogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011794:Quercetin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D005419:Flavonoids; C012526:quercitrin; D011794:Quercetin; D005947:Glucose