Improved glycemic control and pancreatic antioxidant protection with biochanin-A and metformin in experimental diabetes
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder where hyperglycaemia and insulin dysfunction promote tissue injury, with oxidative stress contributing to pancreatic -cell damage.Given the antihyperglycaemic and antioxidant activities of biochanin-A (BCA) and metformin's clinical utility, this study evaluated their combination in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.Adult Sprague Dawley rats (150-200 g) were made diabetic using STZ (65 mg/kg, i.p.) in citrate buffer (pH 4.5); rats with fasting glucose >250 mg/dl were included.Rats were allocated to five groups (n=5/group): normal control, diabetic control, metformin (250 mg/kg, p.o.), BCA (40 mg/kg, p.o.), and metformin + BCA (250 + 40 mg/kg, p.o.), treated for 15 days.Outcomes included body weight, fasting glucose, food/water intake, oral glucose tolerance test (2.5 g/kg dextrose with AUC), insulin tolerance test, pancreatic oxidative biomarkers (SOD, catalase, GSH, TBARS).Diabetic controls showed hyperglycaemia, weight loss, reduced SOD, catalase, GSH, elevated MDA, and islet damage with -cell loss.All treatments significantly reduced glucose and improved oxidative indices versus diabetic controls (p<0.0001),but metformin + BCA produced greater glycaemic reduction than monotherapies, better weight preservation, improved glucose handling, and superior restoration of antioxidant markers.The BCA-metformin combination enhanced antidiabetic efficacy and pancreatic antioxidant protection, suggesting potential for improving glycaemic control and reducing oxidative stress complications.
Institution: Integral University
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7170161007