Modulatory effects of naringin on hepatic key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in high fat diet fed-low dose of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

We evaluated the modulatory effects of naringin on altered hepatic key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in high fat diet fedlow dose of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Oral treatment of naringin at a doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg body weight to diabetic rats for 30 days resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of plasma glucose, blood glycosylated hemoglobin and increase in the levels of plasma insulin and blood hemoglobin. The altered activities of the hepatic key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism such as hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glycogen synthase, glycogen phosphorylase and glycogen content of diabetic rats were significantly reverted to near normal levels by the treatment of naringin in a dose dependent manner. Naringin at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight showed the highest significant effect than the other two doses. Further, immunohistochemical observation of pancreas revealed that naringin treated diabetic rats showed increased insulin immunoreactive β-cells, which confirmed the biochemical findings. These findings revealed that naringin has potential antihyperglycemic activity in high fat diet fedlow dose of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.