Anti-diabetic activity of the petroleum ether extract of Guar gum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: A comparative study

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite lack of scientific evidences to support its therapeutic efficacy, the use of herbal supplements has significantly increased. Guar gum has a wide variety of non-food and food uses as a stiffener in ice cream, yogurt, bakery, and soups; as a stabilizer for cheeses, puddings, and cream; and as a meat binder. Therefore being safe, it was tried in model type II diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in rats, compared to gliclazide. Healthy Sprague Dawley male adult rats were randomly divided into 5 equal groups namely A, B, C, D, and E (group A and B) were kept as normal control and diabetic control. The other diabetic groups from group C to group E were treated as follow Gliclazide 4.5 mg/kg, Guar gum 200 mg/kg and Guar gum 200 mg/kg plus gliclazide 4.5 mg/kg respectively for 14 consecutive days. Blood glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity and β-cell function were measured. Guar gum exerted antidiabetic activity nearly similar to that of gliclazide as indicated by significant reduction of glucose, HBA1c, and insulin resistance. Elevation of insulin and β-cell function was also observed. Guar gum and gliclazide showed antioxidant activity as seen by significant reduction of MDA and LDH. This was associated with marked elevation of GSH and SOD. Urea was also reduced after Guar gum and gliclazide. Similar effects were also seen after combination of gliclazide with Guar gum. It could be concluded that Guar gum could be used safely as an adjunct therapy to gliclazide in treatment of type 2 diabetes. In addition, Guar gum ameliorated its associated complications by reducing the oxidative stress and urea level. Further clinical studies are needed.