Abstract

Objectives: Etiological studies of diabetes and its complications showed that oxidative stress might play a major role. Therefore, many efforts have been tried to regulate oxygen free radicals for treating diabetes and its complications. Because Holotrichia has been known to be effective for the treatment of diabetes, the methanol extract of Holotrichia was tested for its effectiveness in reducing the oxidative stress induced by streptozotocin. Methods: Holotrichia was washed, dried in the shade and crushed. The crushed Holotrichia was extracted 3 times, each time with 3 volumes of methyl alcohol at 60℃ for 24 h. The extract was filtered and evaporated under a reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to yield 17 g. Holotrichia extract was oral-administed to the diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin 50 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 20 days. The efficacy of the Holotrichia extract was examined with regard to the enzymatic pathways involved in the oxygen free radical production and the glutathione balance. Results: The Effects of the methanol extract of Holotrichia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with regards to body weight, blood glucose level, hepatic lipid peroxide level, hepatic superoxide anion radical content, hepatic xanthine oxidase activity and type conversion rate, hepatic glutathione level, hepatic aldose reductase activity, and hepatic sorbitol dehydrogenase activity were shown to be good enough to cure and prevent the diabetes and its complications. Conclusions: These results indicated that Holotrichia might reduce the oxidative stress in the tissues and organs by regulating the production of oxygen free radicals. Especially, Holotrichia might prevent and cure the diabetes and its complications by reducing the oxidative stress in the β-cells of pancreas.