title: Thioflavin T effect in diabetic Wistar rats: reporting the antihyperglycemic property of an amyloid probing dye.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thioflavin T (ThT) is a well-known probe of amyloid fibrils with a benzothiazole core structure. As a compound with partial inhibitory effect on alpha-amylase, the results of oral ThT administration were investigated on a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model of diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  STZ was administered intraperitoneally for induction of diabetes. Afterwards, doses of 2, 8, 16, and 32 mg/kg of ThT were used in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Blood glucose levels, lipid profiles, alpha-amylase activity, food and water intake and urine volume were assessed. Docking was also performed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of ThT on alpha-amylase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Upon treatment with ThT, blood glucose levels and lipid profile of diabetic rats improved significantly. Furthermore, alpha-amylase serum levels of treated animals decreased compared to the control group, suggesting a possible effect of ThT on this digestive enzyme. On the other hand, the food intake of treated animals showed a decrease. ThT effects were also seen to some extent in the non-diabetic group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ThT is suggested to be a potentially useful compound in treatment and prevention of diabetes and associated complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Najafian
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dehestani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Kazem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parivar
authors.affiliation: Biosensor Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: azadehabibi@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebrahim-Habibi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013311:Streptozocin; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014556:Urine; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D013844:Thiazoles; C009462:thioflavin T; D013311:Streptozocin; D000516:alpha-Amylases
keywords: Amylase.; Amyloid; Diabetes; Streptozotocin; Thioflavin T