Authors: Remus Moldovan1, Daniela-Rodica Mitrea1, Irina-Camelia Hărăguș1, Luminiţa David2,
Bianca Elena Moldovan2, Laura Elena Mureşan3, Şoimiţa Suciu1, Simona Clichici1
Affiliation
1 Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca,
Romania
2 Research Center for Advanced Chemical Analysis, Instrumentation and Chemometrics, Faculty of
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3 Raluca Ripan Institute of Research in Chemistry, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Abstract
Background. Cornus mas is a plant rich in flavonoids, anthocyanins, vitamins and other important chemicals with beneficial effects in several pathological situations such as inflammation, hyperglycemia or noxious localized processes. Numerous studies have shown gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to be effective drug transporters to the target tissues.
Aims. The present study evaluated the effects of Cornus mas L. extract administration, as a simple solution or as a functionalizing agent for AuNPs, on the oxidative stress and biochemical parameters in rats with experimentally diabetes mellitus.
Methods. Streptozocin-induced diabetes mellitus in adult Sprague Dawley female rats was performed after 8 months of high fat diet that ensured the animal’s body weight increase (600 ± 20g). The animals were randomly allocated in the following groups: CMC group received carboxymethylcellulose (CMC); Insulin group with Insulin administration; Pioglitazone group received pioglitazone in CMC solution; AuNPsCM group was treated with solution of gold nanoparticles functionalized with Cornus mas L. extract (AuNPsCM) and Cornus mas group received solution with extract of Cornus mas. The parameters of the oxidative stress were evaluated in serum, heart and aorta wall. In addition, biochemical parameters
were investigated from the serum of all rats.
Results. Cornus mas L. extract simple solution produced significant modifications: in aorta wall decreased significantly malondialdehyde, endothelin 1 and TNF-α; in heart homogenate decreased malondialdehyde, TNF-α and increased GSH/ GSSG ratio; in serum increased GSH/GSSG ratio and decreased C-reactive protein (CRP). AuNPsCM administration recorded significant modifications: iNOS increases and TNF-α decreases in aorta wall; malondialdehyde, TNF-α decreases and iNOS increases in heart homogenate; in serum, glucose, HDL and CRP decreases.
Conclusions. Cornus mas L. extract simple solution presented beneficial effects in aorta and heart tissues, decreasing the oxidative stress and the inflammation that were generated in rats on high fat diet and experimentally induced diabetes mellitus. AuNPsCM administration showed conflicting inflammatory effects in aorta and heart homogenates but decreased the glucose levels in serum of rats.
Key words: Cornus mas, oxidative stress, aorta, heart, gold nanoparticles.
