• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2007

This study was designed to examine the effects of fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) on hepatic antioxidative status in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes mellitus by STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into 5 groups: normal, STZ-control, three experimental diabetic groups. Fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida were administered orally into the diabetic rats for 14 days. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity (determined with H$_2$O$_2$ as substrate) was increased in the groups supplemented with chloroform (CHCl$_3$) and butanol (BuOH) fractions. Glutathione peroxidase (GR) activity in the liver cytosol of H$_2$O fraction groups was significantly lower than that of STZ-control group. The H$_{2}$O fraction supplemented group has been shown the notably decrease in the hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The hepatic cytosol catalase (CAT) activity was significant decreased by the supplementation with BuOH fraction. It was found from the results that the supplementation of BuOH and H$_2$O fractions of Benincasa hispida extract could be beneficial for the diabetic complications and damages from the lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.801-806
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• 2005

This study was designed to examine the effects of fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) on plasma glucose and lipid levels in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabolic rats. sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes mellitus by STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into 5 groups: normal, STZ-control, three experimental diabetic groups. fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida were administered orally into the diabetic rats for 14 days. The food intake and body weight were monitored and plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) , free fatty acid (FFA) , and aminotransferase activity were analyzed. A significant lowering effects of plasma glucose levels were observed in the chloroform fraction and $H_2O$ fraction group compared to STZ-control group at 14 days. Administrations of each of the three fractions decreased plasma TG and FFA levels in diabetic rats. Activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in $CHCl_3$ fraction and $H_2O$ fraction groups and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in $H_2O$ fraction group significantly lower than STZ-control group. The results show that $CHCl_3$ fraction of Benincasa hispida could be effective to control the STZ-induced diabetic rats. (Korean J Nutrition 38(10): 801$\sim$806,2005)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.513-519
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• 2006

The effects of fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) on lipid levels and lipid peroxidation in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were examined. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes mellitus by STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into 5 groups: normal, STZ-control, three experimental diabetic groups [chloroform $(CHCl_3)$ fraction group, butanol (BuOH) fraction group, and water fraction group]. Fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida were administered orally into the diabetic rats for 14 days. The liver glycogen levels of $CHCl_3$ fraction group and the muscle glycogen levels of BuOH and water fraction groups were significantly higher than that of STZ-control group. Pancreas protein levels of BuOH and water fraction groups were significantly higher than that of STZ-control group. The liver cholesterol level of BuOH and water fraction groups were significantly lower when compared with the STZ-control group. The level of liver triglyceride in BuOH and water fraction groups were significantly higher than that of STZ-control group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver of normal and diabetic groups were not significantly different. In the pancreas, the MDA levels of BuOH and water fraction group were significantly lower than that of STZ-control group. The results suggested that the supplementation of the BuOH and water fractions of Benincasa hispida extract could be beneficial for the diabetic complications and damages from the lipid peroxidation.