Baicalin Improves Antioxidant Status of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

This study investigated the antioxidant and antidiabetic effects of baicalin, as well as its effects in combination with the antidiabetic drug metformin. Three groups of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were given the following treatments for 30 days: (1) 500 mg/kg metformin; (2) 120 mg/kg baicalin; (3) 500 mg/kg metformin + 120 mg/kg baicalin. In addition, vehicle-treated diabetic and nondiabetic controls were used in the experiment. The rats treated with baicalin and metformin + baicalin had significantly elevated (p < 0.05) hepatic activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase compared with the vehicle- and metformin-treated groups. Plasma and hepatic lipid peroxide concentrations of the baicalin- and baicalin + metformin-treated groups were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). In addition, baicalin significantly reduced plasma and hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol levels. The study thus showed that baicalin mitigated oxidative stress as well as enhanced the antidiabetic effect of metformin by improving the antioxidant status.