GTF-231, a Mixture of Gymnemic Acid, Trigonelline and Ferulic Acid Significantly Ameliorates Oxidative Stress in Experimental Type 2 Diabetes in Rats.

OBJECTIVES: According to a report by the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, nearly 60% of patients with diabetes have more than one complication caused by chronic diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a multifactorial metabolic disorder that accounts for more than 95% of people with diabetes and usually requires multitargeted therapeutic interventions. It arises due to insufficient insulin secretion or its action or both. Recently, we reported that the oral administration of gymnemic acid, trigonelline and ferulic acid in the ratio of 2:3:1 (GTF-231), a mixture of 3 phytoingredients at a concentration of 300 mg/kg body weight significantly improved the glucose homeostasis in rats with low-dose streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes that were fed with high-fat diet.

METHODS: In the present study, an effort was made to evaluate the antioxidant potential of GTF-231 in rats with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes was induced in experimental rats by administration of low-dose streptozotocin (35 mg/kg body weight) and high-fat diet. The biochemical parameters analyzed included levels of fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, plasma insulin, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance, homeostatic model assessment beta-cell function, advanced glycation end products, advanced oxidation protein products, hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde and enzymatic as well as nonenzymatic antioxidants and proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 1 beta, interleukin-6, nuclear factor-κB and nitric oxide. Histologic observations were made on the pancreatic tissues.

RESULTS: The data obtained showed the significant antioxidant properties of GTF-231, which were further evidenced by the histologic observations made on the pancreatic tissue.

CONCLUSIONS: The observed antioxidant potential of GTF-231 may account for its significant antidiabetic properties.