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Croton cajucaraBenth is a plant found in Amazonia, Brazil and the bark and leaf infusion of this plant have been popularly used to treat diabetes and hepatic disorders. The present study was designed to evaluate the oxidative stress as well as the therapeutic effect ofCroton cajucaraBenth (1.5 mL of theC. cajucaraextract i.g.) in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.Croton cajucaraBenth was tested as an aqueous extract for its phytochemical composition, and its antioxidant activityin vitrowas also evaluated. Lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase activities were measured in the hepatic tissue, as well as the presence activation of p65 (NF-κB), through western blot. Phytochemical screening ofCroton cajucaraBenth detected the presence of flavonoids, coumarins and alkaloids. The extract exhibited a significant antioxidant activity in the DPPH-scavenging and the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase assays. Liver lipid peroxidation increased in diabetic animals followed by a reduction in theCroton-cajucara-Benth-treated group. There was activation of p65 nuclear expression in the diabetic animals, which was attenuated in the animals receiving theCroton cajucaraBenth aqueous extract. The liver tissue in diabetic rats showed oxidative alterations related to the streptozotocin treatment. In conclusion theCroton cajucaraBenth aqueus extract treatment effectively reduced the oxidative stress and contributed to tissue recovery.

Aims.To determine lymphocyte IRS (IRS1 cells) in HCV patients, correlating it to liver IRS (IRS 1liver) and HOMA-IR. This study tested the hypothesis that IRS1 cells expression can be used as insulin resistance (IR) marker in HCV-infected patients. IRS1 cells were not studied before in HCV infection.Materials and Methods.HCV chronically infected patients, naïve, nonobese, noncirrhotic, and nondiabetic were prospectively included and compared to controls (blood donors). Blood was taken, and leukocytes were separated. IRS1 was determined by real-time PCR. Liver tissue was obtained from transplant donors as controls.Results.41 HCV-positive patients were included, 26 males (60.5%); mean age of 45 (); 33 (80.5%) from genotype 1. 6 out of 12 controls were males (50%); mean age was 26.7 (). There was expression of IRS1 in leukocytes. The median IRS1 cells (HCV) were 0.061 (0.004 to 0.469); the median IRS 1liver (HCV) was 0.0003 (0.00002 to 0.0186)—lower than in controls (resp., and ). HOMA-IR had an inverse correlation with IRS 1liver (). There was no correlation between IRS1 liver and IRS1 cells ().Conclusions.There was expression of IRS1 in leukocytes. IRS1 cells and IRS1 liver were lower in HCV patients than in controls.