Effects of different doses of <em>Prunus laurocerasus</em> L. leaf extract on oxidative stress, hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia induced by type I diabetes

Abstract

The fruits and leaves of the <em>Prunus laurocerasus</em> (PL) plant are used in traditional medicine for many purposes because of their anti-diabetic properties. This study aimed to determine the anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-hyperlipidaemic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of PL leaf extract on experimental type I diabetes. Different doses PL extracts were administered orally for 25 days to rats. Biochemical and immune histochemical analyses were performed at the end of the study. Antioxidant test results showed that the PL had a very high antioxidant capacity. The study also revealed that different doses of PL increased SOD (p < 0.001) and GSH (p < 0.05 in PL500 group) levels but decreased TBARS (p < 0.001) levels in the kidney tissue. Significant increases were noted in the SOD levels of liver tissue (p < 0.01). In addition, HDL cholesterol levels (p < 0.05) significantly increased while LDL (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively) and TG levels (p < 0.05 in PL1000 and PL1500 groups) decreased when the PL groups were compared with the DC group. Eventually, the anti-hyperglycaemic effects of PL were not determined. However, PL was found to be highly effective in reducing oxidative stress and hyperlipidaemia. Based on the current study, PL leaf extract may be useful in preventing hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia and oxidative stress, which are chronic complications of diabetes.