BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR EFFECTS OF SILIBININ IN TYPE-2 DIABETICINDUCED WISTAR RATS EXPOSED TO DIESEL EXHAUST PARTICLES

Abstract

People with diabetes mellitus are exposed to diesel exhaust particle (DEP) in an environment filled with industrial and vehicular activities resulting in hepatotoxic, cardiotoxic and other complications associated with diabetes and DEP. Diabetic and non-diabetic rat models were constructed by feeding diabetic group with fructose water (20%) and an injection of low dose streptozocin (STZ). Rats were divided into six (6) diabetic groups and six (6) non-diabetic groups. Rats in diabetic groups underwent intraperitoneal injection of STZ (35 mg/kg) after a fructose diet for fourteen (14) days. After seventy-two (72) hours of STZ injection, rats with blood glucose of 200 mg/dl and above were considered diabetic and used for further research. Results shows that liver, heart, aorta and pancreatic injury occurred in both groups evidenced by attenuation of liver enzymes activities, alteration in pancreatic architecture, fibrosis and increase in inflammation through the FOXO1 pathway. Inhibition of the insulin pathway was also noticed. Increase in oxidative stress was evident through the measure of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), malonaldehyde (MDA), conjugate diene (CD) levels. Silibinin exerts theraupeutic effects on both groups by modulating oxidative/antioxidative status, inflammatory cytokine production and restoration of insulin pathway. In conclusion Silibinin treatments to STZinduced DM rats significantly attenuated the hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity via improving the metabolic profile, biochemical parameters, and antioxidant status as well as reducing pancreatic morphological alterations. Therefore, I recommend that silibinin should be added as a dietary supplement to food for diabetic patients.