Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic Effects of Watercress (Nasturtium Officinale) Extracts in Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background: Watercress is a semi-aquatic plant used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, such as flu, cough, avitaminosis, and anorexia; it is also used as a diuretic and for hypoglycemia treatment in diabetes. In this study, we report the antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity of orally administered aqueous (WAQE), acetonic (WAE), and alcoholic (WOHE) watercress extracts. The effect of subchronic administration of watercress extracts on oxidative stress was also studied. Materials and Methods: WAQE, WAE, and WOHE were obtained and administered orally. Alloxan (200 mg/kg) and streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) were applied to induce hyperglycemia in male Wistar rats. Phenolic and flavonoid content, as well as antioxidant activity of the extracts were measured. The acute and subchronic effects (8 weeks) of WAQE were evaluated. The activity of antioxidant enzymes levels of malondialdehyde, hepatic enzyme markers in the serum, and renal function markers, were assessed. Histopathological evaluation of the pancreas, kidney, and liver was performed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results: Watercress extracts have high concentrations of phenols, polyphenols, and flavonoids, in addition to a very high antioxidant effect. The hypoglycemic effect of WAQE upon acute administration was 76.6% higher than that of insulin. When administered chronically, glucose levels were normalized on the third week up to the eighth week. Furthermore, the antioxidant enzymes and biochemical parameters improved. Conclusion: WAQE administration to diabetic rats reduced oxidative stress damage and decreased glucose levels. This study supports the use of this plant for the treatment of diabetes.

Effects of Nasturtium officinale Extract on Antioxidant and Biochemical Parameters in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial

“…Our results showed that EENO supplementation in the intervention group did not affect the activity of this enzyme. Contrary to the finding of the current work, in some animal models of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes in rats, EENO increased the activity of GPx [ 34 , 35 ]. This difference can be due to the difference between animal models with the clinical trials.…”

“…These findings confirm the previous results that showed EENO increased the SOD activity in hypercholesterolaemic rats [ 34 ]. Our results also are consistent with the previous study that reported EENO increased the activity of SOD in diabetic rats [ 35 ]. Contrary to the results of the present study, Clemente and coworkers, in a human clinical trial on the antioxidants effect of EENO supplementation in people with a physical disability, showed that EENO fails to increase the SOD activity [ 33 ].…”

“…Yazdanparast and their colleagues confirmed that EENO inhibited the extent of lipid peroxidation in the liver of hypercholesteremic rats [ 34 ]. Besides, EENO reduced the serum level of MDA and tissue damage in some animal laboratory models such as renal disease, liver injury, diabetes, and inflammation [ 14 , 15 , 26 , 35 ].…”

A Narrative Review on Therapeutic Potentials of Watercress in Human Disorders

“…Fenton-Navarro et al showed that the hypoglycemic effect of aqueous WC extract during acute mode was 76.6% more than that of insulin, and once aqueous WC was used in the chronic period, the levels of glucose reached the normal range during the third week to the eighth week of the experiment. [ 34 ].…”

Nasturtium Officinale’ni̇n Fi̇toki̇myasal İçeri̇ği̇, Anti̇oksi̇dan Ve Enzi̇m İnhi̇bi̇tör Etki̇leri̇

“…Oksidatif stress, diyabet etiyolojisinde önemli bir rol oynar, mikrovasküler ve makrovasküler komplikasyonlara, katarakta, nefropatiye ve nörolojik bozukluklara neden olabilmektedir. Ayrıca diyabetli hastaların antioksidan savunma sistemi zayıflamış olup, serbest radikaller tarafından doku hasarı riski artmaktadır [6]. Hipergliseminin yanı sıra, diabetes mellitus hastalığında plazma lipid seviyeleri genellikle yükselmekte olup koroner kalp hastalığı için bir risk faktörü oluşturmaktadır.…”