Abstract

CISNEROS, Ruth; ORE, Raquel; ARNAO, Inés  and  SUAREZ, Silvia. Value of reduced / oxidized glutathione (GSH / GSSG) in diabetic rats treated with maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp). An. Fac. med. [online]. 2011, vol.72, n.2, pp.107-111. ISSN 1025-5583.

Background: Diabetes mellitus and its complications are public health problems. Hyperglycemia triggers harmful biochemical effects to the body, such as oxidative stress and inflammatory process. The use of medicinal plants with high antioxidant capacity as Lepidium meyenii Walp (maca) is an alternative in treatment of this disease. Objective: To determine whether ingestion of maca flour improves the relation reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) in diabetic rats. Design: Experimental. Setting: Biochemistry and Nutrition Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Biological material: Yellow maca flour and adult male Holtzman albino rats. Interventions: Diabetes was induced in 24 rats with streptozotocin (STZ) 40 mg/kg body mass; rats were randomly divided into four groups of six animals each: control (CO), glibenclamide (GL) 10 mg/kg body mass, maca 4 g/day (M4), and maca 6 g/day (M6). The experiment lasted 40 days. We evaluated glucose, body mass and levels of GSH and GSSG in plasma and liver homogenate at the end of the experiment. Main outcome measures: Body mass, plasma glucose, GSH and GSSG in plasma and liver homogenate. Results: Plasma was favored with circulating reduced glutathione. Values of GSH / GSSG ratio in groups treated with maca were about 190, significantly higher than in the CO group. Conclusions: Yellow maca flour administration to diabetic rats increased the GSH / GSSG ratio in plasma and contributed in improving redox status.

Keywords : Diabetes; yellow maca; reduced glutathione; oxidized glutathione; oxidative stress.

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