Abstract: The aim of the present study is to determine if a combination of rutin (vitamin-P) and vitamin C has any advantage on antioxidant status in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. Oral administration on rutin (100 mg kg-1), vitamin C (200 mg day-1) and their combination (50 and 100 mg kg-1) for 5 weeks on the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), glucose, insulin, Total Cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in normal and STZ-induced diabetic rats were evaluated. Reduced glutathione (GSH), Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations were estimated in liver. Histopathological changes were screened in liver. Body weight significantly (p<0.001) drops although liver and kidney weights were increased in diabetic rats. Hepatic enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP), cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and lipids (TC and TG) were significantly elevated in diabetic rats. Treatments with rutin and vitamin C significantly lowered the elevated values in diabetic rats while it found higher in combined treated group. Liver MDA increased, GSH and SOD levels decreased significantly (p<0.001) in diabetic rats. The treatment with rutin and vitamin C lowered MDA and increased the antioxidant levels to near control values. The results verify the presence of oxidative stress in diabetes and suggest beneficial effects of rutin and vitamin C combinations in combating the oxidative stress in this disease. |