Remnant β-Cell-Stimulative And Anti-Oxidative Effects Of Persea
Americana Fruit Extract Studied In Rats Introduced Into
Streptozotocin - Induced Hyperglycaemic State
Insulin-stimulative and anti-oxidative effects of Persea americana
fruit extract were evaluated using streptozotocin (STZ). Ethanol
extract of P. americana in the concentration of 300 mg/kg body
weight/rat /day was orally administered to rats introduced into
STZ-induced hyperglycaemic state for a period of 30 days. After the
treatment with avocado fruit extract, the elevated levels of blood
glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, blood urea and serum creatinine seen
in the hyperglycaemic rats, reverted back to near normal. Similarly,
significantly decreased plasma insulin and haemoglobin levels went back
to near normal after the treatment, suggesting the insulin-stimulative
effect of P. americana fruit. Determination of thiobarbituric acid
reactive substances (TBARS), hydroperoxides and both enzymatic and
non-enzymatic antioxidants, confirmed the anti-oxidative potential of
avocado fruit extract which, in turn, might be responsible for its
hypoglycaemic potential. Changes in activities of enzymes such as serum
aspartate transaminase (AST), serum alanine transaminase (ALT), and
serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) seen in the control and experimental
rats, revealed the tissue-protective nature of Persea americana fruits,
while all of the analysed biochemical parameters were comparable to
those obtained with gliclazide as a standard reference drug