Opuntia aff. salagria cladodes and seeds modify kidney lipids in diabetic rats

GILI, VALERIA; SÁNCHEZ, SARA S; ALONSO, TELMA

San Miguel de Tucumán

Congreso; XLV Reunión Anual Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SAIB); 2009

SAIB

Cactus Opuntia has been reported to display hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects but the mechanisms involved have not been elucidated to date. Our previous studies evidenced that O. salagria reduces plasmatic glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerides (TAG) and LDL-c in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of O. salagria administration on kidney lipids in diabetic rats. In addition, some parameters of kidney function were analyzed. Cladodes and fruits were harvested, dried and milled. Male Wistar rats were made diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of STZ and received a daily dietary supplementation with cladodes and seeds over one month. Kidney lipids were extracted, isolated by thin-layer chromatography and derivatized by methanolysis. By the other hand, 24 hours urine and blood samples were collected to determine uremia and creatinine clearance as a measure of glomerular filtration rate. Phospholipid and cholesterol kidney levels were not affected by Opuntia administration while significant changes in TAG and free fatty acid content and composition were observed. The creatinine clearance and serum urea levels in diabetic rats returned to control values after cladodes and seeds consumption. Altogether, these results suggest that Opuntia salagria may have a potential use in diabetes mellitus treatment.