title: Ameliorative effects of glycyrrhizin on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Glycyrrhizin is the main water-soluble constituent of the root of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). The study investigates the effect of glycyrrhizin on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic changes and associated oxidative stress, including haemoglobin-induced free iron-mediated oxidative reactions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were grouped as normal control, STZ-induced diabetic control, normal treated with glycyrrhizin, diabetic treated with glycyrrhizin and diabetic treated with a standard anti-hyperglycaemic drug, glibenclamide. Different parameters were studied in blood and tissue samples of the rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glycyrrhizin treatment improved significantly the diabetogenic effects of STZ, namely enhanced blood glucose level, glucose intolerant behaviour, decreased serum insulin level including pancreatic islet cell numbers, increased glycohaemoglobin level and enhanced levels of cholesterol and triglyceride. The treatment significantly reduced diabetes-induced abnormalities of pancreas and kidney tissues. Oxidative stress parameters, namely, serum superoxide dismutase, catalase, malondialdehyde and fructosamine in diabetic rats were reverted to respective normal values after glycyrrhizin administration. Free iron in haemoglobin, iron-mediated free radical reactions and carbonyl formation in haemoglobin were pronounced in diabetes, and were counteracted by glycyrrhizin. Effects of glycyrrhizin and glibenclamide treatments appeared comparable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glycyrrhizin is quite effective against hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia and associated oxidative stress, and may be a potential therapeutic agent for diabetes treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Molecular Biology & Bioinformatics, University College of Science, University of Calcutta, Acharyya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Subhrojit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Moumita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Abhay Sankar
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chakraborti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D019270:Fructosamine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D018149:Glucose Intolerance; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002374:Catalase; D002784:Cholesterol; D005609:Free Radicals; D019270:Fructosamine; D005905:Glyburide; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007328:Insulin; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase