Tocotrienol-rich fraction from palm oil prevents oxidative damage in diabetic rats

الملخص EN

This study was carried out to determine the effects of tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) (200 mg/Kg) on biomarkers of oxidative stress on erythrocyte membranes and leukocyte deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Methods: Male rats (n = 40) were divided randomly into four groups of 10: a normal group; a normal group with TRF; a diabetic group, and a diabetic group with TRF.

Following four weeks of treatment, fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, oxidative stress markers and the antioxidant status of the erythrocytes were measured.

Results: FBG levels for the STZ-induced diabetic rats were significantly increased (P <0.001) when compared to the normal group and erythrocyte malondialdehyde levels were also significantly higher (P <0.0001) in this group.

Decreased levels of reduced glutathione and increased levels of oxidised glutathione (P <0.001) were observed in STZ-induced diabetic rats when compared to the control group and diabetic group with TRF.

The results of the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly lower in the STZ-induced diabetic rats than in the normal group (P <0.001).

The levels of DNA damage, measured by the tail length and tail moment of the leukocyte, were significantly higher in STZ-induced diabetic (P <0.0001).

TRF supplementation managed to normalise the level of DNA damage in diabetic rats treated with TRF.

Conclusion: Daily supplementation with 200 mg/Kg of TRF for four weeks was found to reduce levels of oxidative stress markers by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and increasing the levels of antioxidant status in a prevention trial for STZ-induced diabetic rats