Laportea aestuans (L.) Chew leaves extract ameliorates hyperglycaemia-mediated oxido-inflammatory stress in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

Abstract

Laportea aestuans leaves also known as tropical nettle weed is used in ethnomedicine for managing diabetes, ulcers and inflammation. This study evaluated the ameliorative effect on hyperglycaemia-mediated oxido-inflammatory stress in reno-hepatic tissues of high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Male Wistar rats fed on HFD and injected with STZ (35 mg/kg) were divided into four groups (n = 6) and treated with distilled water, EELA (200 and 400 mg/kg) and metformin (250 mg/kg). A group fed on normal diet only served as control. The treatment was administered orally for 21 days, fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured on day 7, 14 and 21. Liver enzymes, lipid profile, inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress parameters were assessed in serum, hepatic and renal tissues, respectively. The in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of EELA and its fractions were also determined. Treatment of the diabetic rats with LA significantly (p < 0.05) reduced FBG relative to the diabetic control. Liver enzymes were reduced insignificantly, howbeit lipid profile and atherogenic index was significantly reduced. The levels of CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and liver were significantly reduced in EELA-treated rats when compared with diabetic control. Malondialdehyde was significantly reduced while GSH, catalase, SOD and GST increased in hepatic and renal tissues of EELA-treated rats. EELA and its fractions demonstrated inhibitory activity in α-amylase and α-glucosidase assay. Laportea aestuans leaves exhibited significant antidiabetic effects in HFD/STZ-induced diabetic rats possibly through reduction in inflammation, oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and inhibition of carbohydrate digesting enzymes.