Effect of alcoholic extract of Juglans regia leave on brain antioxidant enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat

Background: Diabetes is considered as one of the most common chronic disease. Studies show that diabetes decreases the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the alcoholic extract of Juglans regia leave on brain antioxidant enzymes in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this study, adult male Wistar rats (n=40, weight 250±20 gr) were randomly divided into 4 groups: 1) Control (intact animals); 2) Streptozotocin-induced diabetics; 3) Treatment-1 (500 mg/kg extract); Treatment 2 (250 mg/kg extract). The two treatment groups received the extract through gastric gavages for 21 days. At the end of the treatment, the blood glucose and level of brain antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase) and malone dealdeid (MDA) were determined. Results: Results showed that the MDA concentration was significantly increased in brain tissue in the diabetic compared to the control group (P<0.05) and leave extract of Juglans regia decreased the MDA level. Furthermore, the levels of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase significantly decreased in brain tissues in the diabetic compared to the control group (P<0.05) and leave extract of Juglans regia increased these enzymes. Conclusion: It can be concluded that oral administration of alcoholic extract of Juglans regia leave has the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats