Evaluation of Protein Thiols and Liver Glycogen Content on Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats Treated with Aqueous Extract of Bixa orellana Leaves

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder causing hyperglycemia affecting the world wide population. In recent years most of the plant extracts with their potential antioxidant property are used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The aim of our study is to determine protein thiols and glycogen content to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Bixa orellana using diabetes induced rats.

Methods: The leaves of B. orellana were obtained, cleaned and shade dried to make the extract. Wistar male rats weighing about 200-300 g were used and all the animals were provided with wheat gluten feed pellets and water. Diabetes was induced using Streptozotocin. The experimental group consisted 6 animals were treated with aqueous extract of 60 mg/kg body weight. The diabetic and normal control group animals were treated with 0.9% of saline.

Results: There was decrease in protein thiol in diabetic control group when compared to normal control and increase in liver glycogen in the diabetic control group. P value between the group’s normal control and diabetic control for protein thiols and glycogen was found to be 0.004 and 0.005 which were highly significant. When Normal group was compared with Test group there was statistical significance difference in which aqueous extract treated group had an increase in serum protein thiol (P<0.002) and a decrease in glycogen content (P <0.001). When Diabetic control group was compared with Test group there was no statistical significance difference in which aqueous extract treated group and had an increase in serum protein thiol (P>0.05) and decrease in glycogen content (P >0.05).

Conclusions: The study showed a significant increase in the protein thiol and decrease in liver glycogen in the test group of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats treated with aqueous extracts of B. orellana leaves.