title: The Antidiabetic and Antihypercholesterolemic Effects of an Aqueous Extract from Pecan Shells in Wistar Rats.
abstract: Pecan shell decoction has been used to treat diabetes and obesity-related diseases. In this study, the effects of a pecan shell aqueous extract (PSAE) were evaluated in diabetic and hypercholesterolemic Wistar rats, analyzing clinical signs and biochemical as well as genotoxic and mutagenic parameters, to assess its safe use and efficacy. Diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia were induced with streptozotocin (STZ) and tyloxapol, respectively. Animals were orally administered PSAE (100 mg/kg body weight, b.w.) for 28 days. Biochemical analyses and genotoxicity were evaluated in blood samples and mutagenicity was evaluated in bone marrow. PSAE treatment decreased the blood glucose level and stabilized clinical signs of diabetes in diabetic rats. PSAE diminished the increase in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in hypercholesterolemic rats. The urea levels were higher in diabetic rats than in treated ones; however, creatinine values were the same in all groups. Elevated transaminase levels were suggestive of liver injuries in diabetic rats, and were not altered by PSAE treatment. PSAE did not show genotoxic or mutagenic activities in diabetic and hypercholesterolemic rats, indicating its safe use at 100 mg/kg b.w. not only in healthy rats but also in rats with induced metabolic alterations. The findings on PSAE's efficacy may indicate that its successful and popular use is in accordance with our results. Thus, PSAE might be a potential candidate for medical purposes as a complementary treatment of diabetes and hypercholesterolemia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Avenida Farroupilha 8001, Canoas, CEP 92425-900, RS, Brazil.|Universidade da Região da Campanha (URCAMP), Avenida Pres. Tancredo Neves, 210, São Borja, CEP 97670-000, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos S
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Avenida Farroupilha 8001, Canoas, CEP 92425-900, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fitoquímica, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Avenida Farroupilha, 8001, Canoas, CEP 92425-900, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre B F
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário UNIVATES, Centro de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Rua Avelino Tallini, 171, Bairro Universitário, Lajeado, CEP 95900-000, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ethur
authors.affiliation: Universidade Regional Integrada (URI), Rua Univ. das Missões, 464, Santo Ângelo, CEP 98802-470, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline D L
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Estresse Oxidativo e Antioxidantes, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Avenida Farroupilha 8001, Canoas, CEP 92425-900, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Norma P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Marroni
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Avenida Farroupilha 8001, Canoas, CEP 92425-900, RS, Brazil. jnpicada@cpovo.net.
authors.forename: Jaqueline N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Picada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D031325:Carya / Q000737:chemistry*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014508:Urea; D002784:Cholesterol; C016811:tyloxapol
keywords: Carya illinoinensis; Comet assay; Micronucleus test; Streptozotocin- induced diabetes mellitus; Tyloxapol - induced hypercholesterolemia