Effect of Trichosanthes kirilowii lectin on blood glucose and oxidative stress in diabetic rats

Objective:To expore the hypoglycaemic and antioxidant effects of Trichosanthes Kirilowii lectin (TKL) .Methods:Diabetic rats were orally administrated metformin, saline and TKL low-dose (0.3g/kg) group、middledose (0.6g/kg) group and high-dose (0.9g/kg) for 3 weeks. The body weight, food and water intake, the fasting blood glucose were measured. Oral glucose tolerance tests were carried out to test the severity of diabetic. At the end of the experiment, GSP, MDA, SOD, GSH levels in rats plasma were evaluated. Results : Diabetic symptoms were ameliorated after rats were fed with TKL for 3 weeks compared with diabetic group. High-dose of TKL significantly decreased FBG, GSP, MDA and increased SOD, GSH in diabetic rats (p<0.01) ;FBG, GSP, MDA and SOD (p<0.05) were also improved in the groups of TKL low-dose and middle-dose. Besides, TKL could improve the impaired glucose tolerance in diabetic rats. Conclusion:TKL could effectively decrease blood glucose and improve antioxidant defense of diabetic rats.