The antioxidant effects of water-ethanol extract (WEE) from Turnera diffusa (damiana) in kidney mitochondria from experimental streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (STZ-DM) rats was evaluated. STZ-DM rats were orally treated during three and five weeks. After experimental periods, kidney mitochondria were isolated and malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO•) and protein nitrosylation levels were measured. Also, blood glucose (BG) and body weight (BW) were recorded. Damiana significantly reduced the MDA and NO• levels in kidney mitochondria, although no changes in protein nitrosylation were observed and it did not have the potential to reverse the hyperglycaemia. In conclusion, WEE of T. diffusa have antioxidant properties that may prevent damage induced by mitochondrial oxidative stress in kidneys of STZ-DM rats.
Keywords: Diabetes; Turnera diffusa; mitochondria; oxidative stress.