Antioxidant and anti-diabetic potential of Passiflora alata Curtis aqueous leaves extract in type 1 diabetes mellitus (NOD-mice)

• Published in: International immunopharmacology Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 106 - 115
• Main Authors: Colomeu, T.C., Figueiredo, D., Cazarin, C.B.B., Schumacher, N.S.G., Maróstica, M.R., Meletti, L.M.M., Zollner, R.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-01-2014
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidant capacity; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Cell Movement; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - drug therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Glutathione (GSH); Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - administration & dosage; Insulin-Secreting Cells - drug effects; Insulin-Secreting Cells - pathology; Mice; Mice, Inbred NOD; Non-obese diabetic mice; Oxidative Stress; Passiflora - chemistry; Passiflora - immunology; Passiflora alata; Passiflora alata Curtis; Phenol; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Leaves; Type 1 Diabetes mellitus; Water; Antioxidant capacity; Type 1 Diabetes mellitus; Non-obese diabetic mice; Passiflora alata Curtis; Glutathione (GSH)
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2013.11.005

Leaves of Passiflora alata Curtis were characterized for their antioxidant capacity. Antioxidant analyses of DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, ORAC and phenolic compounds were made in three different extracts: aqueous, methanol/acetone and ethanol. Aqueous extract was found to be the best solvent for recovery of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, when compared with methanol/acetone and ethanol. To study the anti-inflammatory properties of this extract in experimental type 1 diabetes, NOD mice were divided into two groups: the P. alata group, treated with aqueous extract of P. alata Curtis, and a non-treated control group, followed by diabetes expression analysis. The consumption of aqueous extract and water ad libitum lasted 28weeks. The treated-group presented a decrease in diabetes incidence, a low quantity of infiltrative cells in pancreatic islets and increased glutathione in the kidney and liver (p<0.05), when compared with the diabetic and non-diabetic control-groups. In conclusion, our results suggest that the consumption of aqueous extract of P. alata may be considered a good source of natural antioxidants and compounds found in its composition can act as anti-inflammatory agents, helping in the control of diabetes.
•The antioxidant capacity of Passiflora alata CURTIS leaves was evaluated.•Aqueous extract showed the highest DPPH, FRAP and ABTS radical scavenging capacity.•The lower incidence of type 1 diabetes, infiltrating cells, apoptosis cells and oxidative stress in the treated group•Glutathione showed highest in treated group.