Treatment with aqueous extract from Croton cajucara Benth reduces hepatic oxidative stress in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
Croton cajucara Benth is a plant found in Amazonia, Brazil and the bark and leaf infusion of this plant have been popularly used to treat diabetes and hepatic disorders. The present study was designed to evaluate the oxidative stress as well as the therapeutic effect of Croton cajucara Benth (1.5 mL of the C. cajucara extract i.g.) in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Croton cajucara Benth was tested as an aqueous extract for its phytochemical composition, and its antioxidant activity in vitro was also evaluated. Lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase activities were measured in the hepatic tissue, as well as the presence activation of p65 (NF-κB), through western blot. Phytochemical screening of Croton cajucara Benth detected the presence of flavonoids, coumarins and alkaloids. The extract exhibited a significant antioxidant activity in the DPPH-scavenging and the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase assays. Liver lipid peroxidation increased in diabetic animals followed by a reduction in the Croton-cajucara-Benth-treated group. There was activation of p65 nuclear expression in the diabetic animals, which was attenuated in the animals receiving the Croton cajucara Benth aqueous extract. The liver tissue in diabetic rats showed oxidative alterations related to the streptozotocin treatment. In conclusion the Croton cajucara Benth aqueus extract treatment effectively reduced the oxidative stress and contributed to tissue recovery.
Post-Graduation Program in Medical Sciences, Medical School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, 90035-903 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Graziella Ramos
GR
Rodrigues
Fábio Cangeri
FC
Di Naso
Marilene
M
Porawski
Eder
E
Marcolin
Nélson Alexandre
NA
Kretzmann
Alexandre de Barros Falcão
Ade B
Ferraz
Marc Francois
MF
Richter
Cláudio Augusto
CA
Marroni
Norma Possa
NP
Marroni
D000818:Animals; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D029802:Croton / Q000737:chemistry*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism
D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D021122:Protein Subunits; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase