Glibenclamide or Metformin Combined with Honey Improves Glycemic Control in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is associated with deterioration of glycemic control and progressive metabolic derangements. This study investigated the effect of honey as an adjunct to glibenclamide or metformin on glycemic control in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in rats by streptozotocin. The diabetic rats were randomized into six groups and administered distilled water, honey, glibenclamide, glibenclamide and honey, metformin or metformin and honey. The animals were treated orally once daily for four weeks. The diabetic control rats showed hypoinsulinemia (0.27 ± 0.01 ng/ml), hyperglycemia (22.4 ± 1.0 mmol/L) and increased fructosamine (360.0 ± 15.6 µmol/L). Honey significantly increased insulin (0.41 ± 0.06 ng/ml), decreased hyperglycemia (12.3 ± 3.1 mmol/L) and fructosamine (304.5 ± 10.1 µmol/L). Although glibenclamide or metformin alone significantly (p < 0.05) reduced hyperglycemia, glibenclamide or metformin combined with honey produced significantly much lower blood glucose (8.8 ± 2.9 or 9.9 ± 3.3 mmol/L, respectively) compared to glibenclamide or metformin alone (13.9 ± 3.4 or 13.2 ± 2.9 mmol/L, respectively). Similarly, glibenclamide or metformin combined with honey produced significantly (p < 0.05) lower fructosamine levels (301.3 ± 19.5 or 285.8 ± 22.6 µmol/L, respectively) whereas glibenclamide or metformin alone did not decrease fructosamine (330.0 ± 29.9 or 314.6 ± 17.9 µmol/L, respectively). Besides, these drugs or their combination with honey increased insulin levels. Glibenclamide or metformin combined with honey also significantly reduced the elevated levels of creatinine, bilirubin, triglycerides, and VLDL cholesterol. These results indicate that combination of glibenclamide or metformin with honey improves glycemic control, and provides additional metabolic benefits, not achieved with either glibenclamide or metformin alone.

Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem cells Infusion Ameliorates Hyperglycemia, Dyslipidemia, Liver and Kidney Functions in Diabetic Rats

“…In the present study the STZ induced diabetic rats developed symptoms of renal dysfunction, as shown by elevated serum urea, uric acid and creatinine concentrations. Patel et al [66] and Erejuwa et al [67] suggested that DM leads to an elevation in the oxidative damage, considerable injury in the glomeruli, a marked increase in the protein glycosylation, disorders in matrix protein synthesis and increase in treansforming growth factors-beta (TGF-β). Mir et al [68] postulated that the change changes in serum urea and creatinine of STZ diabetic animals could be attributed to the functional and/or morphological changes in the kidneys.…”

Oxidative Stress in Diabetes Mellitus: Is There a Role for Hypoglycemic Drugs and/or Antioxidants?

“…Studies have shown that antioxidants and some hypoglycemic drugs can prevent oxidation of LDL (Fava et al, 2002, Maritim et al, 2003, Rahimi et al, 2005. Besides, evidence indicates that antioxidants can ameliorate lipid abnormalities (Rahimi et al, 2005, Erejuwa et al, 2011d. The beneficial effects of antioxidants on glycemic control (blood glucose, fructosamine and glycosylated hemoglobin) in diabetes have also been documented (Rahimi et al, 2005, Lai, 2008, Erejuwa et al, 2010a2011d).…”

Myocardial salvaging effects and mechanisms of metformin in experimental diabetes

“…Similar report were shown by Erejuwa, et al in diabetic rat model. 28 Pancreatic Lipase was assessed to detect pancreatic function and increased Lipase level in D-ISP (40.13+5.82) as compared to NC, showed damage to pancreatic tissue as compared to NC. SGPT is a hepatic enzyme and biomarker for abnormal liver function.…”