Antihyperglycemic effect of diosmin on hepatic key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of diosmin on hepatic key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats. Diosmin was administered to streptozotocin-induced (45 mg/kg b.w) diabetic rats at different doses (25, 50, 100 mg/kg b.w) for 45 days to assess its effect on fasting plasma glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, hemoglobin and carbohydrate metabolic enzymes, it was found that plasma glucose was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner when compared to the diabetic control. In addition, oral administration of diosmin (100 mg/kg b.w) significantly decreased glycosylated hemoglobin and increased hemoglobin and plasma insulin. The activities of the hepatic key enzymes such as hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly increased whereas, glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase were significantly decreased. Furthermore, protection against body weight loss of diabetic animals was also observed. These results showed that diosmin has potential antihyperglycemic activity in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats.