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Abstract

The present study evaluates antidiabetic effect of A. indica leaf extract (AILE) and A. indica bark extract (AIBE) on antioxidant enzymes in the brain of alloxan diabetic rats and compared with insulin treatment. The oral effective dose of A. indica leaf (500mg/Kg body weight) and A. indica bark (100mg/Kg body weight) was given once daily for 21days to separate groups of diabetic rats. At the end of the experimental period, blood glucose levels and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) were measured in cytosolic fraction of whole brain. Lipid peroxidation levels were measured in the blood plasma and brain of all the treated diabetic groups. Diabetic rats showed high blood glucose (p<0.01). Decreased activities of SOD, CAT, G-6-PD (p<0.05) and increased activity of GPx, GR were observed in diabetic rats brain. Diabetic controls showed significant increase in MDA level in brain tissue (p<0.05). Treatment with insulin, AILE and AIBE restored the above altered parameters close to the control ones. AILE and AIBE were found significantly effective in correcting these alterations INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia and metabolic abnormalities due to decreased insulin levels, causing metabolic and physiological changes in various organs including brain. 1, 2 Oxidative stress is suggested to be a potential contributor to the development of complications in diabetes. 3-6 High oxidative stress can lead to microvascular cerebral diseases, including stroke, cerebral hemorrhage and brain infarction. 7, 8