1. Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
Abstract
Introduction
Diabetes is a big challenge in the health care system. ros generation is the major mechanisms which is involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. therefore, the antioxidant therapy can be a good choice for treatment of diabetes. calendula officinalis is an herbaceous plant that grows in different parts of world. various properties are associated with calendula officinalis including anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects. so, we decided to evaluate the protective effects of methanolic extract of calendula officinalis against diabetes through increased antioxidant enzymes activity.
Methods
Forty male sprague-dawley rats (180-200 g) rats were divided randomly in four groups (10 per each group) as follow: 1) control group, 2) diabetic control, 3) sham group, 4) calendula -treated group (1mg/kg). after 8 weeks treatment with calendula officinalis intraperitoenally, the rats were killed and their blood samples were collected. antioxidant enzymes activity of serum including catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione level were measured biochemically. the results were analyzed by using mann-withney test and spss software.
Results
Serum catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and glutathione level was decreased significantly in diabetic control group compared to the corresponding control and sham group. but, antioxidant activities of serum catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and glutathione level was increased significantly in treated group in comparison with other groups.
Conclusion
The results indicate that calendula officinalis can significantly increase the serum antioxidant enzymes activity. therefore, more researches are required to convert calendula officinalis to a therapeutic agent as a beneficial treatment for diabetes.
Keywords
Calendula officinalis, diabetes, antioxidant enzymes, rat.
