Effects of Zhitangshu on malondialdehyde and free radical scavenger in blood of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rats

Objective It is to observe the effects of Zhitangshu (ZTS) on malondialdehyde (MDA) and free radical in blood of non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats. Methods The NIDDM model rats were induced with low dosage of streptozotocin (STZ) and high heat feeding. Metformin hydrochloride tablets (MHT) and Gliclazid tablets (GCT) and different doses of ZTS were perfused into the stomach of the rats once a day for 9 weeks. The healthy rats in normal group were chosen to compared with. The contents of insulin, glucose, triacylcerol in plasma were measured. The contents of MDA and glutathione (GSH) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH PX) and catalase (CAT) in blood were determined. Results The contents of RBC MDA in blood of NIDDM rats were obviously higher than those of normal group. The contents of GSH and the activities of SOD, GSH PX and CAT of NIDDM rats were obviously lower than those of normal group ( P 0.01). In ZTS, MHT and GCT group, the content of MDA reduced, the contents of GSH and the activities of SOD, GSH PX and CAT rose. The effect of enhancing plasma SOD activity in high dosage ZTS group (2?g/kg) was better than that of GCT group ( P 0.05) , but similar to MHT group ( P 0.05). All of these indexes in low dosage ZTS (1?g/kg) group were respectively compared with those of GCT group and MHT group, there were no significant difference ( P 0.05). And there was dose effect relationship in enhancing GSH between ZTS groups ( P 0.05). Conclusion ZTS has obviously reducing MDA and anti free radical effects.