Amelioration of Alloxan-Induced Hyperglycemia by Touraine Administration

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disease which is characterized by hyperglycaemia, lipoprotein abnormalities and altered intermediary metabolism of major nutrients associated with absolute or relative deficiencies in insulin secretion and /or resistance to its action. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of taurine, in diabetic rats induced by alloxan as a result of induction of diabetes mellitus. Glucose level, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), serum lipids profile (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL), lipid peroxidation as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes (CD) in liver tissue were increased significantly. This effect was concomitant with a significant decrease in serum insulin level, body weight and the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH), glutathione reductase (Gpx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S transferase (GST) in liver as well. The administration of taurine to diabetic rats minimized the harmful effects accompanied with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Suggesting that oxidative stress plays a key role in diabetes and treatment with taurine is useful in controlling not only the glucose and lipid levels but all these components may also be helpful in strengthening the antioxidant potential