Syzygium cumini seed extract ameliorates adenosine deaminase activity and biochemical parameters but does not alter insulin sensitivity and pancreas architecture in a short-term model of diabetes.

BACKGROUND

The effects of the aqueous seed extract of Syzygium cumini (ASc) in a short-term model of diabetes in rats are little explored. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of the ASc on adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity and on biochemical and histopathological parameters in diabetic rats.

METHODS

ASc (100 mg/kg) was administered for 21 days in control and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced (60 mg/kg) diabetic rats. ADA activity, lipoperoxidation (cerebral cortex, kidney, liver and pancreas) and biochemical (serum) and histopathological (pancreas) parameters were evaluated.

RESULTS

The main findings in this short-term model of Diabetes mellitus (DM) were that the ASc (i) significantly reverted the increase of ADA activity in serum and kidney; (ii) ameliorated the lipoperoxidation in the cerebral cortex and pancreas of the diabetic group; (iii) demonstrated hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic properties and recovered the liver glycogen; and iv) prevented the HOMA-IR index increase in the diabetic group. Therefore, the ASc can be a positive factor for increasing the availability of substrates with significant protective actions, such as adenosine. Moreover, by maintaining glycogen and HOMA-IR levels, the extract could modulate the hyperglycemic state through the direct peripheral glucose uptake.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data revealed that the short-term treatment with ASc has an important protective role under pathophysiological conditions caused by the early stage of DM. These results enhance our understanding of the effect of the ASc on the purinergic system in DM.