Evaluation of antidiabetic, cardioprotective, reproductive and hepato-renal efficacy of Amaranthus hypochondriacus in diabetic rats
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Date
2023-09-01
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145
Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the antidiabetic, cardioprotective, reproductive and hepato-renal
efficacy of Amaranthus hypochondriacus following administration of its hydroethanolic seed and leaf extracts @
250 mg/kg b wt for 30 days in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The phytochemical analysis of hydroethanolic
extracts of Amaranthus hypochondriacus seeds (AHSE) and leaves (AHLE) revealed the presence of various
phytoconstituents including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, reducing sugars, glycosides, saponins,
tannins, proteins, fixed oil and fats. Upon quantitative phytochemical analysis, AHLE showed the presence of
higher phenol and flavonoid content as compared to AHSE. Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity assessed in
terms of % inhibition of DPPH and ABTS free radical and total antioxidant capacity revealed the presence of
higher antioxidant potential in AHLE as compared to AHSE. The yeast α-glucosidase and porcine α-amylase
enzyme inhibition assay revealed concentration dependent percentage inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase
by AHSE and AHLE, respectively, with AHLE causing greater inhibition than AHSE, suggesting presence of high
antidiabetic potential in AHLE.
For evaluation of antidiabetic, cardioprotective, reproductive and hepato-renal efficacy of Amaranthus
hypochondriacus, 30 male Wistar albino rats weighing 200-250 gm b wt were randomly and equally divided into
five groups. Group I served as control. Diabetes was induced in group II to V by single intraperitoneal injection of
streptozotocin (prepared in citrate buffer, pH 4.5) @ 50 mg/kg b wt in rats. After 72 hrs, the rats exhibiting blood
glucose levels above 250 mg/dl were considered diabetic and given treatment as per the experimental design for
30 days. Group I served as normal control group. Group II represented diabetic control group, group III rats
received glibenclamide @ 1mg/kg b wt, group IV and V received AHSE and AHLE @ 250 mg/kg b wt for 30
days, respectively. A significant (P<0.05) decrease in body weight, Hb, PCV, TEC, TLC, and lymphocytes,
alongwith the presence of apparent clinical signs such as polydipsia, polyuria were observed in group II rats
throughout the experiment. The treatment with AHSE and AHLE significantly prevented the weight loss in group
IV and V, respectively with loss of signs and symptoms associated with diabetes in a time dependent manner. The
untreated diabetic control group II showed elevated fasting blood glucose, glycosylated Hb and impaired glucose
tolerance, which were ameliorated and reduced following administration with AHLE and AHSE, with higher
amelioration by AHLE, suggesting their antidiabetic activity. In group II rats, a significant (P<0.05) increase in
ALT, AST, ALP and a significant decrease in total protein and albumin, HDL-cholesterol was observed in group
II, which were reduced after treatment with AHSE and AHLE. The administration of AHSE and AHLE was found
effective in reducing hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress in erythrocytes and tissues, as it reduced lipid
peroxidation and raised the level of antioxidant enzymes including reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase and
catalase, which is suggestive of their antioxidant activity. Streptozotocin administration significantly (P<0.05)
affected the reproductive parameters, as it reduced the total sperm count, motility, viability and raised abnormal
sperm per cent, which upon treatment with AHSE and AHLE in groups IV and V were significantly improved,
with AHLE providing better protective action at par with glibenclamide against reproductive dysfunctioning. The
histopathological and electron microscopic examination of tissues revealed the presence of structural
disintegration along with severe pathological lesions in tissues of liver, kidney, pancreas, testes and heart, in
diabetic control group II which were of mild to moderate degree in AHSE and AHLE treated groups, indicating
the ameliorative effect of AHSE and AHLE against streptozotocin induced cellular damage.
Thus, it is evident from this study that the streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats produced
haemotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, dyslipidemia and reproductive dysfunctioning which were
ameliorated following Amaranthus hypochondriacus seed and leaf extracts administration, with leaf extract
providing greater ameliorative action than seed extract, indicating antidiabetic, cardioprotective, reproductive and
hepato-renal efficacy of Amaranthus hypochondriacus.
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