Compartments of Quercetin and Allium cepa [onion] on blood glucose in diabetic rats

ABSTRACT

The major concern in diabetes is increased oxidative stress. Maintaining a balance between reactive oxygen species [ROS] and antioxidants is a major mechanism in preventing damage from oxidative stress. Quercetin [QR] is a well-known flavonoid and a strong antioxidant derived from the onion, Allium cepa, and it has been shown to reduce oxidative stress in the long-term treatment of streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetes in animals. We aimed to study on beneficial effects of QR and Allium cepa on regulation of blood glucose in diabetic model. Methods: Seventy male 8-week-old Wistar albino rats weighing 250 +/- 10 g were obtained, the rats were divided into seven groups comprising ten animals in each group. Diabetes induced with single intraperitoneal injection of STZ. Diabetic rats treated with quercetin [15mg/kg/day, started 48 hours after STZ injection] and Allium cepa juice [2cc/rat/day, started 48 hours after STZ injection]. After 28 days treatment, analysis on blood glucose and insulin was done. The mean TAC showed a significant increase [p < 0.05] in the QR compared to the control, STZ and STZ + QR groups. Both QR and onion Juice had significant effect in lowering blood glucose [355.3 +/- 104 mg/dl and 353.4 +/- 103 mg/dl respectively] [p<0.05] in STZ induced diabetic animals. Both QR and onion juice had lowering effect in Serum insulin in healthy animals and significant increasing effect on serum insulin level in diabetic animals. Both QR and onion juice had good effect in modifying diabetes related biochemical parameters and they are recommended to be studied more in order to being used in the therapy