ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lupinus albus is a member of the Fabaceae family. As a natural or cultivated plant, Lupinus albus is distributed in Europe, the Balkans and Turkey, especially in Marmara and Aegean regions. The lupine is a nutritious and protective plant against diabetes. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, the effects of Lupinus albus fruits on malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), total protein, ADEK vitamins, and cholesterol values, which are the indicators of oxidative damage and antioxidant defense. In this regard, muscle, liver, renal, and brain tissues of STZ-induced type I diabetes rats were studied. METHODS: The analyzes of ADEK vitamins and cholesterol levels in tissues were performed via Shimadzu HPLC device. The lipid peroxidation levels were measured at 532 nm in spectrophotometer. Determination of GSH was read at 412 nm against blank, and for the total protein levels Lowry method was applied. RESULTS: According to the results obtained, it was determined that among the rats with induced type I diabetes, the group applied lupine fruit extract was found to have increased GSH level and decreased MDA levels in all the tissues. The protein values were increased in liver tissues but decreased in the other tissues. The level of vitamins was significantly increased in almost all the tissues in the diabetic group. CONCLUSION: In the present study, it was shown that the lupine reduced the devastating effects of type I diabetes by decreasing the fasting blood glucose and lipid peroxidation values and increasing the glutathione level in comparison to the diabetic group.