EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOTHERAPEUTIC STUDY OF SOME ANTIOXIDANTS AND INSULIN RECEPTOR SENSITIZERS IN DIABETIC RATS

Abstract

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and its complications. This disease may be associated with increased levels of peroxides in plasma and tissues of humans and experimental animals. Continuous hyperglycemia IS likely to increase the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species which might be responsible for occurrence of diabetic complications. Consequently antioxidants emerged as good supplements for treatment of diabetes mellitus. Furthermore free radicals resulting from continuous reaction of glucose with body proteins have been assumed to cause insulin resistance. So antioxidant administration is beneficial in the management of diabetes mellitus due to protection against glucose toxicity and improvement of insulin activity. Taken together with insulin, antioxidants would represent a good approach towards delaying the onset or progression of diabetic complication. In. addition, insulin resistance can be successfully managed by insulin resistant receptor sensitizers such as rosiglitazone.