Beneficial effects of Spirogyra Neglecta Extract on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory factors in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to evaluate the effects of oral supplementation of Spirogyra algae on oxidative damages and inflammatory responses in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.\n\nMethodsDiabetes was induced by administration of 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin. A total of sixty-four rats were divided into eight groups of eight rats each as follows:1) non-diabetic control; 2, 3, and 4) non-diabetic rats treated with 15, 30, and 45 mg of Spirogyra algae/kg/d; 5) control diabetic; and 6, 7, and 8) diabetic rats treated with 15, 30, and 45 mg of Spirogyra algae extract. At the end of the trial, the serum concentrations of glucose, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant status (TAS), C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin, triglycerides, and cholesterol were examined by specified procedures.\n\nResultsOur findings indicated that the administration of STZ significantly increased the serum concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, CRP, IL-6, TNF-, and MDA and decreased the serum levels of GSH and TAS (P<0.05) in diabetic rats. Oral administration of Spirogyra alleviated adverse effects of diabetes on oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in diabetic rats (P<0.05).\n\nConclusionIt can be stated that Spirogyra algae extract can be used for treatment of diabetes likely due to prevention of oxidative stress and alleviation of inflammation in the rat model.