Effects of freeze-dried Fragaria x ananassa powder on alloxan-induced diabetic complications in Wistar rats

Abstract

Objectives: Strawberries contain antioxidant phytochemicals, which have been shown to beneficial against inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, neurodegeneration, hyperglycaemia and associated diabetic complications. Freeze-dried strawberry powder (FSP) is effective in controlling metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the effect of FSP on alloxan-induced diabetes in rats.Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar albino rats by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg bw), and treatment with FSP (700 mg/day for 45 days) was started 48 h after alloxan injection. Blood glucose, insulin, C-peptide, haemoglobin, renal function markers (urea, uric acid and creatinine) and enzyme markers (aspartate and alanine transaminases and alkaline phosphatase) were assayed with suitable methods.Results: Animals given alloxan had significant body weight loss, poor glucose tolerance and increased blood glucose with concomitant decreases in insulin, C-peptide and haemoglobin values, and significant (p < 0.05) changes in the levels of renal function markers and enzyme activities. Oral administration of FSP for 45 days significantly (p < 0.05) reverted the body weight loss, hyperglycaemia, biochemical parameters, enzyme activities and insulin levels to near normal levels.Conclusions: FSP can revert alloxan-induced diabetes and its complications. The antioxidant properties of the fruit probably play a major role in the observed changes.

Fragaria viridis Fruit Metabolites: Variation of LC-MS Profile and Antioxidant Potential during Ripening and Storage

“…Special attention is also paid to understanding the nature of postharvest changes in the chemical profile and physical properties of strawberry fruits in different storage conditions [3]. Despite the significance of strawberry as a food, pharmaceutical interest is also given due to the presence of various bioactive compounds including antioxidative [4], anti-inflammatory [5], antibacterial [6], anti-allergic [7], antidiabetic [8], and cancer preventive [9] properties. The antioxidative properties of various strawberries were discussed previously, and high effectiveness was revealed for Fragaria extracts and unprocessed fruits [10], thereby strengthening the interest to study strawberries.…”

Antidiabetic, Lipid Normalizing, and Nephroprotective Actions of the Strawberry: A Potent Supplementary Fruit

“…The major phenolic compounds from strawberry-like quercetin, ellagic acid, and catechin, in their pure form, have been reported to have antidiabetic activities [ 49 , 50 , 51 ]. An extensive literature search indicated that there are very few previous reports on the effects of whole strawberry extracts or that of individual active molecules isolated from the extracts on diabetes [ 30 , 31 , 52 ]. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the present report is the first comprehensive report investigating the effect of whole fruit extracts of strawberry on streptozotocin-induced diabetes at biochemical, molecular, and histological levels.…”

“…Anthocyanin extracts from strawberries caused upregulation of anti-inflammatory adiponectin gene in isolated rat adipocytes and in white adipose tissue in mice [ 29 ]. A recent report by Abdulazeez [ 30 , 31 ] has even suggested complete reversal of alloxan-induced diabetes and its complications after the administration of a powder from freeze-dried strawberries. None of the above reports have analyzed the effects of interventions at the molecular level.…”

Fragaria Genus: Chemical Composition and Biological Activities

“…The commercially-available strawberry freeze-dried powder was demonstrated by Abdulazeez [88] to reverse alloxan-induced diabetes (results not presented in Table 4 as authors used commercial powder product); in a similar study, Yang et al [12] evaluated the potential anti-diabetic application of new and known compounds isolated from strawberry fruits (as presented in Section 2) by determining the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The best results were obtained for cupressoside A (IC 50 = 25.39 µM), kaempferol 3-(6-methylglucuronide) (IC 50 = 65.22 µM), and 2-p-hydroxybenzoyl-2,4,6-tri hydroxyphenylacetate (IC 50 = 97.81 µM), with very good results obtained for a newly proposed structure (kaempferol 3-(6-butylglucuronide)-IC 50 = 107.52 µM); results superior to the positive control (acarbose-IC 50 = 619.94 µM) were also obtained for five other compounds.…”