Protective effect of Ipomoea carnea Jacq leaves extracts on streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress in rats

Objective: Imbalance between the concentrations of oxidant and antioxidants in mammalian cells leads to oxidative stress. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Ipomoea carnea Jacq leaves extracts on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced oxidative stress in rats. Methods: Alterations in stress biomarkers like activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and levels of blood glutathione and malondialdehyde in experimental groups administered with STZ alone and along with aqueous or alcoholic extracts of I.carnea were determined. Results: Single intra-peritoneal administration of STZ (60 mg/kg) caused significant decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and blood glutathione levels while malondialdehyde level as an indicative of oxidative stress significant increased. Administration of I.carnea extracts at the dose rate of 500 mg/kg body weight through oral gavage continuously for 3 weeks in STZ-treated group reduced malondialdehyde level significantly and increased activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and blood glutathione level as compared to STZ alone treated rats; however, the values of antioxidants remain still lower in comparison to normal control rats. Conclusion: In the present STZ-diabetes model of rats, alcoholic extract of I.carnea leaves have more potent efficacy in restoring the enzymatic and non-enzymatic components of antioxidant system of rats as than the aqueous extract.