title: Therapeutic effect of okra extract on gestational diabetes mellitus rats induced by streptozotocin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of okra extract on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) rats and its probable molecular mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 female SD rats were caged with male rats for pregnancy, 27 pregnant rats were obtained and weighed. The pregnant rats were equally randomized into the control group, GDM group and intervention group. Once the pregnancy was verified, GDM group and intervention group were given 45 mg/kg streptozotocin by peritoneal injection for inducing GDM, control group was given equal volume of citrate buffer. Once the model was established successfully, intervention group was administered orally the solution containing 200 mg/kg/d okra extract, the other groups were given the diet and water only. On the 19th day of pregnancy, the blood samples and fetal rats of all groups were collected, fetal rats weight and placental weight was recorded and the serum glucose, lipids, serum insulin and C-peptide of pregnant rats before the delivery were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pregnant rats weight before the delivery, fetal rats weight and placental weight of GDM group were lower than control group and intervention group (P < 0.05). After the treatment of okra extract, serum glucose and lipids levels of intervention group were both improved significantly (P < 0.05), especially, the FBG, HDL, FINS, serum m insulin and hepatic glycogen levels were equivalent to control group (P > 0.05). Antioxidant enzymes levels of GDM group in liver and pancreas tissues were lower than the other groups, and after treatment of okra extract, antioxidant enzymes levels in liver and pancreas tissues were equivalent to control group (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Okra extract, rich in antioxidant substances, could avoid the excessive consuming of antioxidant enzymes, then, suppresses the oxidative stress and insulin resistance, thereby improving blood glucose level of GDM rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Feng-Tai
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qiao-Hong
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Central Hospital of Shanghai Jiading District, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: lichen_guo@126.com.
authors.forename: Li-Chen
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Guo
keywords: Antioxidant enzyme; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Insulin resistance; Okra extract; Pregnant rats