ZYGOPHYLLUM GAETULUM AQUEOUS EXTRACT PROTECTS AGAINST DIABETIC DYSLIPIDEMIA AND ATTENUATES LIVER AND KIDNEY OXIDATIVE DAMAGE IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED-DIABETIC RATS

Zygophyllum gaetulum is one of several traditional remedies used for diabetes treatment in Algeria. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of this plant on hyperglycemia, insulin sensitivity indexes, lipid profiles, lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and paraoxonase (PON1) activities and liver and kidney antioxidant status, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. Diabetes was induced intraperitoneally by a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (55mg/kg bw). Diabetic rats (n=12), weighing 263±5g, were randomly divided into two groups fed a casein diet supplemented or not with Zg extract (1g/kg bw), for 4 weeks. The control group (n=6) received 0.23-0.25 ml of citrate buffer and was fed a standard diet during the experiment. Phytochemical analyses of Zg revealed the presence of tannins and flavonoids. At d28, in Zg-treated vs untreated diabetic rats, glycemia and HOMA-IR were decreased by 58 and 57%, respectively. Inversely, the QUICKI index was increased (+10%). The levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL-HDL₁-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, VLDL-triacylglycerols, and phospholipids were decreased significantly (p<0.05). PON1 and LCAT activities were increased by 43%. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels in the liver and kidney were respectively 1.8- and 1.6-fold lower, while the activities of superoxide dismutases (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSSH-Red) and catalase (CAT) in Zg-treated rat were enhanced. In conclusion, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, treatment with Zygophyllum gaetulum extract reduces glycemia, serum lipids and stimulates PON1 and LCAT activities. In addition, it reduces oxidative stress in the liver and kidney by decreasing TBARS levels and increasing antioxidant enzyme activities.