Antioxidative effects of Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts in liver of diabetic mice

Biofactors. 2006;26(3):209-19. doi: 10.1002/biof.5520260306.

Abstract

Both Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts are used as anti-diabetic folk medicines. Recently, increased oxidative stress was shown to play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and its complications. This study was designed to examine the effects of Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts on blood glucose, lipid peroxidation, the level of reduced glutathione and its related enzymes (glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase), and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) in the liver of db/db mice. Diabetic C57BL/Ks db/db mice were used as experimental models. Mice were divided into control (n=10), Cinnamomi cassiae (200 mg/kg/day, n=10), and Rhodiola rosea (200 mg/kg/day, n=10) treated groups for 12 weeks of treatment. These type II diabetic mice were used to investigate the effects of Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea on blood glucose, reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, lipid peroxidation, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts significantly decreased on blood glucose, increased levels of reduced glutathione and the activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase in the liver. Extract treatment also significantly decreased lipid peroxidation. Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts may be effective for correcting hyperglycemia and preventing diabetic complications.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Catalase / drug effects
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Cinnamomum aromaticum / chemistry*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Glutathione / drug effects
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / drug effects
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Glutathione Reductase / drug effects
  • Glutathione Reductase / metabolism
  • Glutathione Transferase / drug effects
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Phytotherapy / methods
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Rhodiola / chemistry*
  • Superoxide Dismutase / drug effects
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Blood Glucose
  • Plant Extracts
  • Catalase
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Glutathione Reductase
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • Glutathione