Hibiscus rosa sinensis L. anthocyanins prevent lipid peroxidation and improve antioxidant status in the liver of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Background:  Hyperglycemia and oxidative stress are hallmarks of diabetes mellitus (DM). Excessive oxidative stress is implicated in diabetic pathogenesis when endogenous antioxidants are defective.Objective: The present study evaluates the effects of anthocyanins present in the petals of Hibiscus rosa- sinensis on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Materials and methods: Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by a single intraperitoneal injection (30mg/kg) of streptozotocin. Hibiscus rosa sinensis anthocyanins (HA) extract (50 mg/kg body weight) orally administered to diabetic rats for 30 days. Results compared with diabetic rats provided with the standard drug metformin (150 mg/kg body weight).Results: Altered levels of glucose, glycated hemoglobin, toxicity markers and lipid profile in serum were significantly modulated upon the administration of HA in diabetic rats. A supplementation of HA to diabetic rats reduced oxidative stress, as well as increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the liver. The present study demonstrates that HA has a protective effect on diabetic ratsConclusion: The present study indicates that Hibiscus anthocyanin supplementation could protect diabetic rats' livers by protecting the hepatocytes from oxidative stress and increasing the antioxidant enzymes' activity.  Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Hibiscus rosa sinensis anthocyanins, Oxidative stress