Influence of Helicteres isora administration for diabetes mellitus: Its effect on erythrocyte membrane and antioxidant status.

In this study the effect of Helicteres isora L. on erythrocyte membrane bound enzymes and antioxidants activity in plasma and erythrocytes of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic model was investigated. The aqueous bark extract of H. isora was administered orally for 30 days to control and STZ induced diabetic rats. The effect of bark extract on glucose, insulin, haemoglobin, glycosylated haemoglobin, TBARS, hydroperoxide, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxide (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), vitamins C and E, reduced glutathione (GSH) and membrane bound enzymes were studied. The levels of glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, TBARS, hydroperoxide, and vitamin E were increased significantly whereas the level of insulin, haemoglobin, as well as antioxidants, membrane bound total ATPase, Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase were decreased significantly in STZ diabetic rats. Administration of bark extract to diabetic rats showed a decrease in the levels of glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, lipid peroxidation markers and vitamin E. In addition the levels of insulin, haemoglobin, enzymatic antioxidants, vitamin C, and GSH and the activities of membrane bound enzymes also were increased in H. isora treated diabetic rats. The present study indicates that the H. isora possesses a significant favourable effect on erythrocyte membrane bound enzymes and antioxidants defense system in addition to its antidiabetic effect.