Research Paper EFFECT OF HESPERETIN ON HYPERGLYCEMIA-MEDIATED OXIDATIVE DAMAGE IN THE HEPATIC AND RENAL TISSUES OF EXPERIMENTAL DIABETIC RATS

Diabetes mellitus is the most common serious metabolic disorder and it is considered to be one of the five leading causes of death in the world. Hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress plays a crucial role in diabetic complications. Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of hesperetin on the plasma glucose levels and on the antioxidant defense system in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Oxidative stress was assessed by the reduction in the enzymic antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and nonenzymic antioxidant Vitamin C, E and reduced glutathione (GSH) were observed in the liver and kidney tissues of diabetic control rats as compared to control rats. Oral supplementation of hesperetin to diabetic rats for 45days significantly brought back the enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants to normalcy. These findings suggest that hesperetin (40mg/kg bw) exerts a protective effect in diabetes by attenuating hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress and antioxidant competence in hepatic and renal tissues.