Antidiabetic activity of teucrium pruinosum extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

This study was conducted to investigate the antidiabetic activity of Teucrium pruinosum extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In our study, body weight, feed and water consumption, blood glucose levels, biochemical markers, oxidative stress markers (TAS, TOS, OSI) and inflammatory markers (IL-1β) were analyzed in experimental groups. Forty male and 40 female Wistar albino rats (8 weeks old, 180-300 grams) were used in the study. The rats were housed at 22 ± 2 °C and 50% relative humidity in a 12/12 h light-dark cycle at 22 ± 2 °C and 50% relative humidity in transparent, see-through containers designed for the addition of standard rat food and water attachments. In our study, rats were divided into five groups as healthy (S), diabetes (DM), diabetes + 200mg/kg metformin (DM+M200), diabetes + Teucrium pruinosum 100mg/kg (DM+T100) and diabetes + Teucrium pruinosum 200mg/kg (DM+T200). The rats were taken into the experimental environment 14 days before the beginning of the experiment in order to complete the adaptation to the experimental conditions. Rats were fasted for 16 hours before STZ injection and injected intraperitoneally with STZ at a dose of 40 mg/kg. Blood glucose levels above 250mg/dl measured 48 hours after injection were considered as diabetes. Teucrium pruinosum exstarate at doses of 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg was administered by oral gavage for 28 days and the results were compared with those of rats administered 200mg/kg metformin by oral gavage. As a result of the study; As a result of our study, in terms of weight change, while body weight gain was observed in the healthy and DM+T100 groups, body weight loss occurred in the diabetes, DM+M200 and DM+T200 groups. The difference in weight change between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). In terms of feed intake, there was a slight decrease in feed intake in the healthy group, while there was an increase in feed intake in all other diabetic groups. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). In terms of water consumption, an increase in water consumption was observed in all groups, with the highest increase in the DM+M200 group (55.65%) and the lowest increase in the healthy group (15.98%). The differences in water consumption were also statistically significant (p<0.05). In terms of blood glucose levels; when the 3rd and 30th day measurements v were compared, a 13.91% decrease in blood glucose levels was recorded in the DM+T200 group, followed by a 7.89% decrease in the DM+M200 group. In the diabetes group, an 11.08% increase in blood glucose levels was observed. A significant difference was found between the groups in blood glucose change (p<0.05). In terms of biochemical markers: Creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, amylase and lipase levels were not significantly different between the groups (p>0.05), while glucose, urea, Ast, Alt and GLP-1 levels were statistically significant (p<0.05). The most significant decrease in glucose levels was observed in the DM+T100 group compared to the diabetes group. In terms of oxidative stress markers (TAS, TOS, OSI), TAS values were significantly higher in the DM+T200 group (p<0.05). TOS and OSI values were significantly higher in the diabetes group compared to the other groups (p<0.05). In terms of inflammatory marker (IL-1β): IL-1β levels were significantly higher in the diabetes group compared to the other groups (p<0.05). The lowest IL-1β levels were found in the healthy group. The findings of this study suggest that the treatment protocol used may be effective in controlling hyperglycemia, reducing oxidative stress and suppressing inflammation. The treatment protocols applied at T100 and T200 doses can be considered as a supportive agent for diabetes treatment. However, long-term studies and studies with different dosages are necessary to clarify its efficacy and safety. The results of the study once again emphasized that not only glycemic control but also oxidative stress and inflammation should be monitored in diabetes management. In order to support the findings of the study and to explain the mechanisms in more detail, further experimental and clinical studies to investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects at the molecular level are recommended. Keywords: Diabetes, Rat, Streptozotocin, Teucrium Pruinosum, Oxidative and Inflammatory Markers