Antidiabetogenic and antioxidative effects of octaphlorethol a isolated from the brown algae Ishige foliacea in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

The antidiabetogenic and antioxidative effects of octaphlorethol A (OPA) isolated from the brown algae Ishige foliacea in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were analyzed. STZ-induced diabetic mice showed a significant ( p<0.05) increase in blood glucose and lipid peroxidation levels and a significant ( p<0.05) decrease in the plasma insulin level and body weight, compared with controls. Diabetic mice also showed a significant ( p<0.05) decrease in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), compared with controls. Oral treatment with OPA (5 and 10 mg/kg) showed protective effects against all the biochemical parameters studied. OPA-treated mice exhibited suppression of apoptosis, and treatment with OPA was associated with an increase in antiapoptotic BclxL expression and a reduction in pro-apoptotic Bax and cleaved caspase-3 expressions. OPA has antidiabetogenic and antioxidative effects, and potential for use in therapies as both a natural functional food and a pharmaceutical agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]