Aim:

Vaccinium myrtillus (VM) is popularly known as blueberries used as a therapeutic in many diseases, especially diabetes. VM has an extensive habitat in Turkey and America. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of Vaccinium myrtillus on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant system and plasma glucose levels in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods:

32 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups, including 8 rats in each group. Groups were determined as control (C), streptozotocin (STZ), Vaccinium myrtillus (VM) and Vaccinium myrtillus + streptozotocin (STZ+VM). After preparation of STZ contains citrate buffer (0.1 M, pH 4.5), containing 55 mg/kg, it was applied to the rats as intraperitoneal and single dose. Extracts were given as oral gavage according to the group of animals every day during 10 days (100mg / kg). On day 11, diabetes were introduced by streptozocin (55mg / kg) according to animal groups. Blood glucose was measured from the queue. The catalase that is an antioxidant enzyme, activity was measured, by the Aebi method. Lipid peroxidation product that malondialdehyde (MDA) content was studied by spectrophotometric method according to Draper and Hadley method. The determination of supernatant of the resulting protein extracts of tissue homogenates was made by determining by the Lowry method. The results are evaluated by ANOVA, p<0.05 were considered significant.

Results:

There was a significant increase in liver CAT values in VM group (p <0.05). When the liver MDA levels were examined, there were significant differences between STZ and VM, STZ and C. When the kidney MDA levels were compared, MDA levels in STZ group were significantly higher than VM (p <0.05).

Conclusion:

The oxidative stress increase in rats by creation of diabetes. The applying of Vaccinium myrtillus to the diabetic rats reduces oxidative stress and this improves the general state of the rats. More studies are needed to determine more clearly the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of Vaccinium myrtillus.

Keywords: Vaccinium myrtillus, Diabetes Mellitus, MDA, CAT antioxidant