title: The Effects of Supplementary Mulberry Leaf (Morus alba) Extracts on the Trace Element Status (Fe, Zn and Cu) in Relation to Diabetes Management and Antioxidant Indices in Diabetic Rats.
abstract: Mulberry leaves (Morus alba) have been used in folk medicine to mitigate symptoms of diabetes. The mulberry plant contains phenolic compounds that are able to decrease blood glucose concentration. Since various phenolics have antioxidant and metal binding properties, they can be used to alleviate oxidative stress and chelate trace elements involved in redox reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with mulberry leaf extracts (acetone-water (AE) and ethanol-water (EE)) on the trace element status (Fe, Zn and Cu) in relation to diabetes management and antioxidant indices in high-fat diet-fed/STZ diabetic rats. The experiment was performed on 38 male Wistar rats with diabetes (induced by high-fat diet (HF) and streptozotocin injection) or the control fed with AIN-93M or high-fat diet. As a result, five experimental groups were used: (1) a healthy control group fed with AIN-93M; (2) an HF control group; (3) a diabetic HF group; (4) a diabetic HF + AE group (6 g/kg diet); (5) a diabetic HF + EE group (6 g/kg diet). The rats were fed with appropriate diets for 4 weeks. The content of trace elements (Fe, Zn and Cu) in the serum and tissues was measured by means of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Biochemical analyses (glucose, TBARS, FRAP) were performed on the blood serum. It was shown that the AE decreased hepatic and renal Fe stores, while the EE increased hepatic Cu levels in diabetic rats and confirmed their ability to regulate the Fe and Cu status in diabetes. The results confirmed a significant hypoglycaemic and antioxidant potential of both mulberry leaf extracts in diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 31, 60-624, Poznań, Poland. ekrol@up.poznan.pl.
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Król
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Technical Electrochemistry, Poznań University of Technology, ul. Berdychowo 4, 60-965, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeszka-Skowron
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 31, 60-624, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Krejpcio
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Service and Catering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 31, 60-624, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flaczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Rafał W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Wójciak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008670:Metals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014131:Trace Elements
keywords: Diabetes; Mulberry leaf extracts; Rats; Trace elements