Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) in type 1 diabetes mellitus is attributed to increased oxidative stress-associated activation of c-Jun Nuclear Kinase (JNK). We investigated the effects of naringin on hyperglycemia-associated oxidative stress, activation of JNK-1, and CH. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (225-250 g) (n = 7) were divided into 6 groups. Groups I and II were orally treated with distilled water [3.0 mL/kg body weight/day (BW)] and naringin (50 mg/kg BW), respectively. Groups III-VI were rendered diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg BW of streptozotocin. Groups III, IV, and V were further treated with insulin (4.0 I.U, s.c, twice daily), naringin (50 mg/kg BW), and ramipril (3.0 mg/kg BW), respectively. After 56 days, the animals were sacrificed and then plasma and cardiac tissues obtained for further analysis. Naringin treatment of diabetic rats significantly reversed oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, proteins oxidation, CH indices, and JNK protein activation compared with untreated diabetic animals. Our results do suggest that naringin mitigates CH by inhibiting oxidative stress leading to inactivation of JNK-1. Naringin supplements could therefore ameliorate CH in diabetic patients.

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