Extract of Calyces from Physalis peruviana Reduces Insulin Resistance and Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder mainly characterized by obesity, hyperglycemia, altered lipid profile, oxidative stress, and vascular compromise. Physalis peruviana is a plant used in traditional Colombian medicine for its known activities of glucose regulation. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of the butanol fraction from an extract of Physalis peruviana calyces in two doses (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) in induced type 2 diabetic mice. Blood glucose levels were evaluated once a week, demonstrating that a dose of 100 mg/kg resulted in greater regulation of blood glucose levels in mice throughout the experiment. The same overall result was found for the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA- IR). The lipid profile exhibited improvement compared to the non-treated group, a dose of 100 mg/kg having greater protection against oxidative stress (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde levels). Histopathological findings in several tissues showed structure preservation in most of the animals treated. The butanol fraction from Physalis peruviana at 100 mg/kg showed beneficial results in improving hyperglycemia, lipidemia, and oxidative stress status, and can therefore be considered a beneficial coadjuvant in the therapy of diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: antioxidant; diabetes; flavonoid; hyperglycemia; lipidosis; rutin.

Figure 1

Total ion chromatogram of BFPP in the positive ion mode.

Figure 2

Blood glucose levels (BGL) of animals treated for 21 days. Normoglycemic (blue), vehicle (red), metformin 250 mg/kg (green), BFPP 50 mg/Kg (yellow), BFPP 100 mg/Kg (purple). The data are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 animals per group. Two-way ANOVA post-test Bonferroni; *** p < 0.001 and **** p < 0.0001 compared with the vehicle group.

Figure 3

Effects of BFPP on body weight of mice with induced diabetes. Normoglycemic (blue), vehicle (red), metformin 250 mg/kg (green), BFPP 50 mg/kg (yellow), BFPP 100 mg/kg (purple). The data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Two-way ANOVA post-test Bonferroni. * p ≤ 0.05 and **** p ≤ 0.0001 compared with the vehicle group.

Figure 4

Hypoglycemic activity of BFPP on diabetic mice. Normoglycemic (blue), vehicle (red), metformin 250 mg/kg (green), BFPP 50 mg/Kg (yellow), BFPP 100 mg/Kg (purple). The data are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 animals per group. Two-way ANOVA post-test Bonferroni; * p ≤ 0.05; *** p < 0.001 and **** p ≤ 0.0001 compared with the vehicle group.

Figure 5

Effect of BFPP on lipid profile parameters. Normoglycemic (blue), vehicle (red), metformin 250 mg/kg (green), BPFF 50 mg/kg (yellow), BFPP 100 mg/kg (purple). The data are expressed as mean ± SEM n = 6 animals per group. One-way ANOVA post-test Dunnet; ns: not significant; * p ≤ 0.05; ** p ≤ 0.01, *** p < 0.001 and **** p ≤ 0.0001 with respect to the vehicle group. (A) Total cholesterol levels; (B) triglyceride levels; (C) LDL levels; (D) HDL levels; (E) Liver histology (CONTROL: Normoglycemic group; VEH: diabetic group which received only vehicle; MET: Metformin 250 mg/kg; BFPP 50 mg/kg and BFPP 100 mg/kg.

Figure 6

Effect of BFPP on oxidative stress markers. Normoglycemic (blue), vehicle (red), metformin 250 mg/kg (green), BFFF 50 mg/kg (yellow), BFPP 100 mg/kg (purple); (A) pancreas CAT; (B) pancreas SOD; (C) pancreas MDA levels; (D) liver CAT; (E) liver SOD; (F) liver MDA levels; (G) kidney CAT; (H) kidney SOD; (I) kidney MDA levels. The data are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 animals per group. One-way ANOVA post-test Dunnet; * p ≤ 0.05; ** p ≤ 0.01, *** p < 0.001 and **** p ≤ 0.0001 compared with the vehicle group.

Figure 7

Effect of the butanol fraction from calyces of P. peruviana on pancreatic islets at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg. (A) Untreated diabetic group (vehicle); (B) normal control group; (C) diabetic group treated with metformin; (D) diabetic group treated with BFPP 50 mg/kg; (E) diabetic group treated with BFPP 100 mg/kg. Micrographs were stained with H&E, with a magnification of 40× and 100×. Arrows shows the presence of Langerhans islets.

Figure 8

Effect of the butanol fraction from calyces of P. peruviana on kidney tissue at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg. (A) Untreated diabetic group (vehicle); (B) normal control group; (C) diabetic group treated with metformin 250 mg/kg; (D) diabetic group treated with BFPP 50 mg/kg; (E) diabetic group treated with BFPP 100 mg/kg. Micrographs were stained with H&E, with a magnification of 40× and 100×. Arrows show the presence of renal glomeruli.