ANTIOXIDANTS STATUS OF STZ–INDUCED DIABETIC RATS TREATED WITH EXTRACT OF Momordica charantia

Omobola A. Komolafe; David A. Ofusori; Olarinde S. Adewole; Efere M. Obuotor; Julius B. Fakunle

Volume : IV, Issue : VII, July - 2015

ANTIOXIDANTS STATUS OF STZ–INDUCED DIABETIC RATS TREATED WITH EXTRACT OF Momordica charantia

Omobola A. Komolafe, David A. Ofusori, Olarinde S. Adewole, Efere M. Obuotor, Julius B. Fakunle

Abstract :

 The present study investigated the effects of Momordica charantia on hyperglycaemia and selected markers of antioxidants activities which include thiobarbituric acid reactants (TBARS), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione (GSH), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) in streptozotocin–induced diabetic Wistar rats. Forty healthy adult Wistar rats of both sexes were randomly assigned into five groups A, B, C, D and E of eight rats each. Group A were the control (normal rats); B were the experimentally–induced diabetic rats; C were diabetic rats treated with methanolic extracts of M. charantia for two weeks (withdrawal group); D were diabetic rats treated with methanolic extracts of M. charantia for four weeks. E was diabetic rats treated glimepiride for four weeks. Results showed that aqueous extract of Momordica charantia has potent hypoglycaemic effects in diabetic rats. There was a significant reduction (p< 0.05) of TBARS in extract treated group when compared with untreated diabetic rats. There was a non significant increase in the activities of CAT, GSH, SOD and GPx in the extract treated group when compared with the untreated diabetic group. In conclusion, this study revealed that M. charantia could restore to within normal levels, the observed changes in most antioxidants markers of diabetic rats