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Abstract
The hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of ethanol extract from the roots and rhizomes of Rheum franzenbachii Münt. (Polygonaceae) were evaluated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Effects of repeated oral administration of ethanol extract (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight) on the plasma glucose level (PGL), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in diabetic rats were examined. It was found that administration of ethanol extract (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) produced a significant fall in PGL, AUC, and MDA, while elevating the GSH levels and SOD and CAT activities in diabetic rats. The dose of 500 mg/kg was identified as the most effective dose, with a decrease of 65.8 and 44.0% in PGL and MDA, and elevation of 72.6, 75.0, and 51.5% in GSH level and SOD and CAT activities, respectively, after 14 days of ERF administration in diabetic rats. Moreover, the OGTT studies showed a maximum reduction in PGL and AUC. From the active extract of Rheum franzenbachii, two stilbenes, desoxyrhapontigenin (1) and desoxyrhaponticin (2), were isolated as major constituents. The present study concludes that the ethanol extract of roots and rhizomes from Rheum franzenbachii had significant hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects.
Acknowledgements
We are thankful to Tianjin University of Science & Technology for the partial support of this work. We also thank Meihua Yang of the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, China Academy of Medical Science, for identification of the plant material, and the Academy of Military Medical Science for providing pharmacological laboratory facilities.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.