Atividade anti-diabética de β-glucanos obtidos de Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd.) C. E. Hubb (Poaceae), em ratos

Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify the anti-diabetic activity of β-glucans from Rhynchelytrum repens plants (Poaceae), used in traditional and popular medicine for diabetes treatment, on the reduction of blood sugar levels. Extraction was performed at CAPQ (Centro de Análise e Prospecção Química, Departamento de Química, UFLA) and at DMV (Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, UFLA). Samples were sent to USP (Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências) for the characterization of β-glucans, and their presence was confirmed. Three experiments were performed with normal rats and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. β-glucans used are referred to the KOH 4M rich fraction. In the first trial, 24 Wistar rats received 2.5 mg/kg/day of β-glucan, intraperitoneally, for 21 days. There were no differences in blood glucose levels between treated and non-treated animals. In the second trial, 48 Wistar rats received increasing dosages of 0, 7, 14 and 21 mg/kg/day of β-glucan, using the same procedure and time lag described above. Glycemic levels were reduced with 21 mg/kg/day for 21 days. In the last experiment 30 Wistar rats were treated with higher dosages of β-glucans (50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg/day), and glucose levels were measured before and each 6 hours after administration, until 24 hours. All treatments differed from the control. All dosages used were efficient, but the dose of 200 mg/kg/day resulted in lesser blood glucose in relation to initial levels, reaching a 48.5% decrease in 24 hours. The β-glucan from Rhynchelytrum repens is able to cause a decrease in blood glucose levels of diabetic rats.