title: Protective effects of Withania somnifera root on inflammatory markers and insulin resistance in fructose-fed rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the effects of Withania somnifera root (WS) on insulin resistance, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in fructose-fed rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight Wistar-Albino male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=12); Group I as control, Group II as sham-treated with WS by 62.5mg/g per diet, Group III fructose-fed rats received 10%W/V fructose, and Group IV fructose- and WS-fed rats. After eight weeks blood samples were collected to measure glucose, insulin, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in sera.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-R), IL-6, and TNF-α levels were all significantly greater in the fructose-fed rats than in the controls. Treatment with WS significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the fructose-induced increases in glucose, insulin, HOMA-R, IL-6, and TNF-α.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that WS normalizes hyperglycemia in fructose-fed rats by reducing inflammatory markers and improving insulin sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Samadi Noshahr
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shahraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorram Abad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmadvand
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Davood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nourabadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakhaei
keywords: IL-6; Insulin resistance; TNF- α; Withania somnifera