The effect of aerial part of Cynara scolymus extract on the hyperlipidemia, plasma antioxidant capacity, and superoxide dismutase activity in diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is considered as an important risk factor for clinical disorders such as nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy and cardiovascular diseases. Medicinal plants, due to low side effects, are considered as suitable alternativer chemical drugs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) aqueous extract on biochemical factors in Sterptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In this experimental study, 24 male rats were divided into 4 groups. One group (control) received standard diet and the other three groups were injected by sterptozotocin to induce diabetes. Then one, among the three groups, received standard diet (diabetic control group) and the other two groups received 200 and 400 mg/kg artichoke aqueous extract for 21 days by stomach tube, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture and serum triglyceride, total cholesterol (TC), glucose, HDL-C, LDL -C, VLDL-C, HbA1c, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of red blood cells (RBC), plasma malondialdehyde and antioxidant capacity were measured and compared by ANOVA and Tukey tests. Artichoke extract significantly reduced serum TC, TG, VLDL-C, glucose, plasma malondialdehyde and HbA1c in treated diabetic rats as compared to diabetic control group (P<0.05). Additionally, artichoke extract significantly increased the plasma antioxidant capacity, HDL-C, and superoxide dismutase activity of RBC in treated diabetic rats, compared to the diabetic group. The findings of this study showed positive effects of artichoke extract on lipoprotein profile, antioxidant status, and glucose tolerance in diabetic rats. Therefore, artichoke extract may be beneficial in control of diabetes, abnormalities in lipid profiles and reduction of oxidative stress by activation of SOD activity.