Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of a hypoglycemic fraction from Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mice.
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by oxidative stress and a chronic low-grade inflammatory state, which also play roles in the pathogenesis of this disease and the accompanying vascular complications by increasing the production of free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché (C. ficifolia) is an edible Mexican plant whose hypoglycemic activity has been demonstrated in several experimental and clinical conditions. Recently, D-chiro-inositol has been proposed as the compound responsible for the hypoglycemic effects; however, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of this plant has not yet been explored. The aim of this research is to study the influence of a hypoglycemic, D-chiro-inositol-containing fraction from the C. ficifolia fruit (AP-Fraction) on biomarkers of oxidative stress, as well as on the inflammatory cytokines in streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The AP-Fraction obtained from the mature fruit of C. ficifolia contained 3.31 mg of D-chiro-inositol/g of AP-Fraction. The AP-Fraction was administrated daily by gavage to normal mice for 15 days as a preventive treatment. Then these animals were given streptozotocin, and the treatments were continued for an additional 33 days. Pioglitazone was used as a hypoglycemic drug for comparison. Administration of the AP-Fraction significantly increased glutathione (GSH) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver without significantly affecting the levels in other tissues. The AP-Fraction reduced TNF-α and increased IL-6 and IFN-γ in serum. Interestingly, the AP-Fraction also increased IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine. These results suggest that C. ficifolia might be used as an alternative medication for the control of diabetes mellitus and that it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in addition to its hypoglycemic activity.
Department of Health Sciences, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
R
R
Roman-Ramos
J C
JC
Almanza-Perez
A
A
Fortis-Barrera
S
S
Angeles-Mejia
T R
TR
Banderas-Dorantes
A
A
Zamilpa-Alvarez
M
M
Diaz-Flores
I
I
Jasso
G
G
Blancas-Flores
J
J
Gomez
F J
FJ
Alarcon-Aguilar
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D028464:Cucurbita / Q000737:chemistry*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D005638:Fruit; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007294:Inositol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016207:Cytokines; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010936:Plant Extracts; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D007294:Inositol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005978:Glutathione; D000077205:Pioglitazone