Investigation of the effects of metformin and vildagliptin active ingredient preparations on rat telomerase enzyme and oxidative stress parameters in comparison with healthy cells

Aim: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder which characterised by hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. First-choice treatment procedure is application of oral anti-diabetics such as metformin (MET) and vildagliptin (VILDA). Recently, MET published as a possible anti-catalyst for the aging process related with telomerase enzyme (TE) and telomere length. According to the experimental results, MET increased TE activity by decreasing the oxidative stress level caused by T2DM. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to find out anti-diabetics' effects in both monotherapy (MET and VILDA) and combination (MET/VILDA) therapy on aging process associated with oxidative stress and enzymatic defense system. Material & Method: Adult female Spraque-Dawley rats were used. T2DM was induced by single dose i.p. administration of 80 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Treatment group was treated by 100 mg/kg/day MET and 6 mg/kg/day VILDA for 8 days. Erythrocyte and tissue samples were used for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) formation, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) activities by spectrophotometric method. Serum samples were used for determination of TE activity by Rat-Telomerase ELISA Kit. Results: Erythrocyte MDA formation in MET/VILDA group was significantly higher than control group, MET, and VILDA however, in VILDA; were significantly lower than MET/VILDA and MET. Also, GPx and CAT activities in VILDA group were significantly higher than control group, MET, and MET/VILDA; GPx activity in MET was significantly lower than VILDA and MET/VILDA. TE activity is significantly higher in MET and VILDA than control. The effects of MET on TE activity are significantly higher than VILDA. In MET/VILDA, TE activity is significantly lower than control, MET, and VILDA. Conclusion: Vildagliptin alert the GPx and CAT activities to reduce oxidative stress but metformin was found insufficient to activate GPx. Also, Vildagliptin increased TE activity as Metformin however, binary combination reduced TE activity. Key words: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; Oxidative Stress; Telomerase Enzyme Activity