Impact of Ginkgo biloba extract and magnetized water on the survival rate and functional capabilities of pancreatic ß-cells in type 2 diabetic rat model.

INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a widely distributed disease that affects large population worldwide. This study aimed to verify the role of Ginkgo biloba (GB) extract and magnetized water (MW) on the survival rate and functional capabilities of pancreatic ß-cells in type 2 diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T2D was induced by feeding the rats on a high-fat diet (20% fat, 45% carbohydrate, 22% protein) for eight weeks followed by intra-peritoneal injection of a single low dose of streptozotocin (25mg/Kg). Forty rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=10 rats) as follows: non treated control and three diabetic groups. One diabetic group served as a positive control (diabetic), while the other two groups were orally administered with water extract of GB leaves (0.11 g/kg/day) and MW (600 gauss) for four weeks, respectively. RESULTS: The ß-cell mass and insulin expression in these cells increased markedly after both treatments, particularly in GB treated group. In addition, the immune-expression of the two antioxidant enzymes; glutathione and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) in the pancreatic tissue demonstrated a down-regulation in GB and MW treated groups as compared with the diabetic group. CONCLUSION: A four-week treatment of GB and MW protected pancreatic ß-cell cells and improved their insulin expression and antioxidant status in type 2 diabetic rats.

Corrigendum to "Protective Effect of Ginkgo biloba and Magnetized Water on Nephropathy in Induced Type 2 Diabetes in Rat".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/1785614.].

Protective Effect of Ginkgo biloba and Magnetized Water on Nephropathy in Induced Type 2 Diabetes in Rat.

We aimed in our current study to explore the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba (GB) and magnetized water (MW) against nephrotoxicity associating induced type 2 diabetes mellitus in rat. Here, we induced diabetes by feeding our lab rats on a high fat-containing diet (4 weeks) and after that injecting them with streptozotocin (STZ). We randomly divided forty rats into four different groups: nontreated control (Ctrl), nontreated diabetic (Diabetic), Diabetic+GB (4-week treatment), and Diabetic+MW (4-week treatment). After the experiment was finished, serum and kidney tissue samples were gathered. Blood levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, and urea were markedly elevated in the diabetic group than in the control group. In all animals treated with GB and MW, the levels of urea, creatinine, and glucose were significantly reduced (all P < 0.01). GB and MW attenuated glomerular and tubular injury as well as the histological score. Furthermore, they normalized the contents of glutathione reductase and SOD2. In summary, our data showed that GB and MW treatment protected type 2 diabetic rat kidneys from nephrotoxic damages by reducing the hyperlipidemia, uremia, oxidative stress, and renal dysfunction.

Effect of All-Trans Retinoic Acid on the Pancreas of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rat.

All-trans Retinoic acid (atRA) is instructive for the development of endocrine pancreas and is an integral component of ß-cell induction protocols. We showed that atRA induces glucose-responsive endocrine transdifferentiation of pleomorphic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. This study aimed to detect the role of atRA in improving the histological changes of the pancreas in diabetic rats. Forty young male Wistar rats were used and divided into three groups. Group I: normal vehicle control (N = 5). Group II: streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (N = 20) were followed up at 0.0, 1, 2, and 4 weeks. Group III: streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (N = 15) treated with atRA (2.5 mg/kg/day), were followed up at 1, 2, and 4 weeks. Specimens from the pancreas were processed for light, electron microscopy and pancreatic insulin mRNA expression. Blood samples were assayed for the levels of glucose, insulin, and total peroxides. In the atRA-treated group, the number of the islets and the islet area significantly increased. Strong insulin-immunoreactive endocrine-like cells were observed nearby the pancreatic acini and the interlobular ducts. Interestingly, insulin-positive cells seemed to arise from pancreatic acinar and ductal epithelium. Ultrastructurally, ß-cells, acinar, and ductal cells restored their normal appearance. Pancreatic insulin mRNA and blood indices were almost normalized. AtRA improved the histological changes of the pancreas and the blood indices in diabetic rats.

Oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: effects of garlic oil and melatonin.

In the present study, oxidative stress in diabetic model and the effect of garlic oil or melatonin treatment were examined. Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight, i.p.)-induced diabetic rats, showed a significant increase of plasma glucose, total lipids, triglyceride, cholesterol, lipid peroxides, nitric oxide and uric acid. Concomitantly, significant decreases in the levels of antioxidants ceruloplasmin, albumin and total thiols were found in the plasma of diabetic rats. Lipid peroxide levels were significantly increased in erythrocyte lysate and in homogenates of liver and kidney, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were decreased in tissue homogenates of liver and kidney. Treatment of diabetic rats with garlic oil (10 mg/kg i.p.) or melatonin (200 microg/kg i.p.) for 15 days significantly increased plasma levels of total thiol, ceruloplasmin activities, albumin. Lipid peroxides, uric acid, blood glucose, total lipid, triglyceride and cholesterol were decreased significantly after treatment with garlic oil or melatonin. Nitric oxide levels were decreased significantly in rats treated with melatonin only. In erythrocytes lysate, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were increased significantly in rats treated with garlic oil or melatonin, while lipid peroxides decreased significantly and total thiol increased significantly in melatonin or garlic oil treatment, respectively. In liver homogenates of rats treated with garlic or melatonin, lipid peroxides were decreased significantly, and GST activities increased significantly, while SOD activities were increased significantly in liver and kidney after garlic or melatonin treatment. The results suggest that garlic oil or melatonin may effectively normalize the impaired antioxidants status in streptozotocin induced-diabetes. The effects of these antioxidants of both agents may be useful in delaying the complicated effects of diabetes as retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy due to imbalance between free radicals and antioxidant systems. Moreover, melatonin may be more powerful free radical scavenger than garlic oil.