title: Protective effect of Morus rubra L. leaf extract on diet-induced atherosclerosis in diabetic rats.
abstract: The antiatherosclerotic effect of aqueous leaves extract of Morus rubra was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed with atherosclerotic (Ath) diet [1.5 ml olive oil containing 8 mg (3, 20,000 IU) vitamin D2 and 40 mg cholesterol] for 5 consecutive days. A short-term toxicity assessment was also conducted in healthy rats to examine toxic effects of the extract. Oral administration of extract to diabetic rats (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight per day for a period of 30 days) produced significant (p<0.001) fall in fasting blood glucose (FBG) in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with the extract (400 mg/kg) showed significant (p<0.001) improvement in body weight and serum lipid profile i.e., total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol, when compared with diabetic control. Endothelial dysfunction parameters (sVCAM-1, Fibrinogen, total NO levels and oxidized LDL), apolipoprotein A and apolipoprotein B were significantly (p<0.001) reversed to near normal, following treatment with the extract. Thus, our study shows that aqueous leaf extract of Morus rubra (400 mg/kg) significantly improves the homeostasis of glucose and fat and possesses significant anti-atherosclerotic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University College of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi 110095, India. drsbs08@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Suman Bala
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Reenu Singh
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tanwar
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rini
authors.forename: Usha Rani
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Shipra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Santosh Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Shukla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides