Aqueous Extract from Pepino (Solanum muricatum Ait.)‎ Attenuated Hyperlipidemia and Cardiac Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Mice

Abstract EN

This study examined the lipid-lowering and cardiac protective effects of aqueous extract of pepino (Solanum muricatum Ait.) in type 2 diabetic mice.

Pepino at 1, 2, or 5% was supplied for 8 weeks.

Results showed that pepino significantly decreased water intake and epididymal fat pad weight in diabetic mice (P<0.05).

Pepino treatments also significantly reduced plasma glucose and insulin levels, HOMA-IR index, and improved oral glucose tolerance (P<0.05).

Plasma and hepatic levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol (TC) were higher in diabetic groups when compared with normal group (P<0.05), pepino treatments at 2 and 5% decreased triglyceride and TC levels in both plasma and liver (P<0.05).

Diabetes enhanced mRNA expression of resistin and diacylglycerol acyltransferase1 (DGAT1) in epididymal fat pad (P<0.05); however, pepino intake significantly suppressed mRNA expression of resistin and DGAT1 in epididymal fat pad (P<0.05).

Pepino intake significantly reduced reactive oxygen species level, increased glutathione level, and retained glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in cardiac tissues (P<0.05).

These findings suggest that pepino could be considered as a functional food for the alleviation of type 2 diabetes.