Evaluation of the Efficacy of Quercetin Against DNA, Lipid, and Protein Damage in a Diabetic Rat Model

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) induces oxidative stress, causing severe biomolecular damage. This study investigated quercetin's protective effects against protein, DNA, and lipid oxidation in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Rats received STZ (50 mg.kg-1, i.p.) and were treated with quercetin (20, 50, or 70 mg.kg-1, daily, orally) for 21 days. Malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), nitrotyrosine (NT), and protein carbonyl content (PCC) were measured, alongside lymphocyte Comet assays. STZ significantly elevated MDA levels compared to controls, but all quercetin treatments effectively reduced MDA concentrations (p