Therapeutic Potentials of Colocasia affinis Leaf Extract for the Alleviation of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes and Diabetic Complications: In vivo and in silico-Based Studies

Abstract

Introduction Hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus (DM) correlates with hepatic impairment, nephropathy, lipid abnormalities, and oxidative stress and subsequently complicates the disease pathogenesis. Medicinal plants have been used for the management of diabetes since ancient times. In this study, we explored the potentials of Colocasia affinis (CA), a plant known to possess anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activities, as a remedy for diabetes and related complications. Methods We induced diabetes in rats using a single intraperitoneal dose (65 mg/kg) of streptozotocin (STZ). We next treated the rats with an ethanolic extract of leaves of CA to reveal its antidiabetic and organ-protective potentials. Biomarkers of diabetes, inflammation, and oxidative stress were measured using biochemical and histopathological analysis. We also performed molecular docking for three major phytochemicals (kaempferol, myricetin, and rosmarinic acid) of CA. Results Oral administration of the CA leaves extract at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg doses decreased blood glucose level significantly (p<0.05) in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The extract also considerably attenuated plasma HbA1c levels and normalized blood lipids, glycogen, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Additionally, treatment with the extract improved kidney complications by decreasing serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Furthermore, CA leaves extract normalized nitric oxide (NO) and advance oxidative protein products (AOPP) in diabetic rats. The extract also showed significant improvement of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione dismutase (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Besides, histological investigation demonstrated attenuation of inflammation of the vital organs, including the liver and the kidney. In silico studies revealed that three major phytochemicals (kaempferol, myricetin, and rosmarinic acid) of the ethanolic extract of leaves of CA can inhibit several molecular targets of diabetes and inflammation. Conclusion Collectively, our results demonstrated the therapeutic potentials of CA for the mitigation of diabetes and diabetic complications.

Self-Micellizing Solid Dispersion of Thymoquinone with Enhanced Biopharmaceutical and Nephroprotective Effects

“…Rats were euthanized to death using ketamine (300 mg/kg b.w.) at the end of the experiment after blood samples had been collected from the animals [37]. The rats' kidneys were removed and kept for later examination.…”

Self-Micellizing Solid Dispersion of Thymoquinone with Enhanced Biopharmaceutical and Nephroprotective Effects

“…Rats were euthanized to death using ketamine (300 mg/kg b.w.) at the end of the experiment after blood samples had been collected from the animals (Shill et al, 2021). The rats' kidneys were removed and kept for later examination.…”

“…Finally, using the chloramine-T linear chart at 340 nm (with chloramine-T concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 nmol/mL), we computed the AOPP levels (Shill et al, 2021).…”

“…Both reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are strong antioxidant enzymes. In order to determine the SOD activity in kidney tissue homogenates, we used the proven techniques (Misra & Fridovich, 1972;Shill et al, 2021). After a short interval, we filled the 96-well plates with 90 µL PBS, 10 mL tissue supernatants, and 100 µL epinephrine.…”

“…In order to determine the GSH levels, we mixed 10 µL of tissue homogenate with 90 µL of PBS and 100 µL of DTNB. We then measured the absorbance at 412 nm as soon as a yellow color appeared (Jollow et al, 1974;Shill et al, 2021).…”