Antioxidant and hypoglycaemic effects of Ardisia compressa (HBEK, myrsinaceae) extract in type 2 diabetic rats

Purpose: To evaluate the possible hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant activities of Ardisia compressa (AC) on a rat model of type 2 diabetes. Methods: Diabetes was induced in female Wistar rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) and nicotinamide (120 mg/kg). The diabetic animals were orally administered water with or without metformin 150 mg/kg (D+Met) or 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg AC (D+100, 200 or 400), daily for 21 days. Normoglycaemic animals were given water with or without 400 mg/kg AC. Glycaemia, urinary protein excretion, lipid profiles, and antioxidant activity were determined. Results: AC decreased hyperglycaemia in diabetic animals (150.67 ± 13.41 mg/dL, AC vs. 346.33 ± 51.21 mg/dL, Diabetes), but not hyperlipidemia. An antioxidant effect was also observed in the 400- mg/kg AC extract group, which exhibited significantly decreased lipid peroxidation (2.597 ± 0.284, AC vs. 3.623 ± 0.280 μM malondialdehyde [MDA]/g, Diabetes) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (1.533 ± 0.207, AC vs. 5.281 ± 0.457 μg DCF/mg, Diabetes) in liver. In addition, lipid peroxidation, ROS, and oxidised proteins levels were decreased in the kidneys and pancreas of AC treated diabetic animals. Conclusion: AC leaves exert hypoglycaemic and antioxidant effects in type 2 diabetic rats, and has the potential to delay or prevent the onset of diabetes-induced complications.