Red honeybush(Cyclopia genistoides)tea mitigates oxidative imbalance and hyperlipidemia,while improving glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetic rats

Red honeybush tea(RHT)is a tea product developed from Cyclopia spp.which is endemic to South Africa.Aside refreshment,RHT has over the years been used traditionally in the treatment of various diseases including type 2 diabetes.This study investigated the in vivo antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity of RHT concentrated hot water extract in type 2 diabetes(T2D)model of rats.T2D was induced starting with feeding 10%fructose solution ad libitum for 2 weeks followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(40 mg/kg body weight(BW)).Five weeks of treatment of RHT led to significant(P<0.05)elevation in serum insulin,pancreaticβ-cell function,HDL-C levels with concomitant decrease in AST,ALT,ALP,urea,CK-MB,fructosamine,total cholesterol,triglycerides,LDL-C,and insulin resistance in diabetic rats.RHT also signifi cantly(P<0.05)decreased MDA levels and enhanced level of GSH,activity of SOD,catalase,GR in most of organs(pancreas,liver,kidneys,and heart).Signifi cantly(P<0.05)improved morphological changes in the islets andβ-cells were observed in rats treated with RHT.The data of this study suggest that RHT demonstrates an outstanding antioxidant and anti-diabetic effects in STZ-induced T2D model of rats.

Testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after treatment with rooibos(Aspalathus linearis),honeybush(Cyclopia intermedia),and sutherlandia(Lessertia frutescens)infusions

Objective:To investigate the testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis status,as well as the sperm functional parameters in streptozotocin(STZ)induced diabetic rats following treatment with rooibos(Aspalathus linearis),honeybush(Cyclopia intermedia)and sutherlandia(Lessertia frutescens)infusions.Methods:Diabetes was induced by injecting fourteen-week-old adult male Wistar rats(250-300 g)with a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ(45 mg/kg body weight).Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups:the vehicle group received 0.1 M citrate buffer,the diabetic control group received 45 mg/kg STZ,the diabetic+rooibos group received 45 mg/kg STZ+2.0%rooibos,the diabetic+honeybush group received 45 mg/kg STZ+4.0%honeybush,and the diabetic+sutherlandia group received 45 mg/kg STZ+0.2%sutherlandia.Rats were sacrificed 7 weeks after induction of diabetes mellitus.The testes and epididymides were harvested and weighed after induction.Spermatozoa were retrieved from the cauda epididymis for motility,concentration,and morphology analysis,and the testis was used for all biochemical assays.Oxidative stress was determined by measuring malondialdehyde levels,catalase,and superoxide dismutase activities,while apoptotic biomarkers were evaluated by Western blotting assays.Results:After induction of diabetes,rats in the diabetic control group,diabetic+rooibos group,diabetic+honeybush group,and diabetic+sutherlandia group presented with significantly elevated blood glucose levels as compared with the vehicle group(P<0.001).Rats in the diabetic control group had a reduction in sperm progressive motility,while rats in the diabetic+rooibos group and the diabetic+sutherlandia group displayed an increase in progressive motility as compared with the diabetic control group.The diabetic control animals showed a 40.0%decrease in sperm concentration when compared to the vehicle group,and there were no significant differences in sperm kinematic and speed parameters between the groups.In addition,the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa was increased by 13.0%,16.0%,and 15.0%after treatment with rooibos,honeybush,and sutherlandia,respectively and the rats in the diabetic+infusion groups also displayed an increase in superoxide dismutase activity when compared to the diabetic control group.Conclusions:Rooibos,honeybush and sutherlandia infusions may partly alleviate diabetes-induced sperm function impairment by reducing oxidative stress.

Descriptive histomorphological evaluation of the testis and caudal epididymis following treatment with rooibos(Aspalathus linearis),honeybush(Cyclopia intermedia)and sutherlandia(Lessertia frutescens)in healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective:To evaluate the testis and the cauda epididymis after treating both healthy and diabetic rats with rooibos(Aspalathus linearis),honeybush(Cyclopia intermedia),and sutherlandia(Lessertia frutescens),respectively.Methods:Ninety male Wistar rats were randomly divided into nine groups(n=10 per group).Fifty rats were randomized to receive tap water,0.1 M citrate buffer,2.0%fermented rooibos,4.0%fermented honeybush,or 0.2%unfermented sutherlandia.Diabetes was induced via a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ)at 45 mg/kg in 40 rats.The diabetic rats were randomized to receive tap water,2.0%fermented rooibos,4.0%fermented honeybush,or 0.2%unfermented sutherlandia.Rats were sacrificed after seven weeks of diabetic induction.Blood was collected for hormonal assay,while the testes and caudal epididymis were retrieved for histomorphological evaluations.Results:Diabetic rats treated with 2.0%fermented rooibos exhibited a significant increase in fasting plasma glucose(FPG)versus the vehicle group(P=0.002),and a 3.6%decrease compared to the diabetic control group(P>0.05).Diabetic rats treated with honeybush or sutherlandia showed 23.6%and 15.4%decrease in FPG when compared to the diabetic control group,respectively(both P>0.05).The diabetic control rats had a significant decrease in the percentage of histologically normal seminiferous tubules compared to the control group(P=0.049).There was 21.0%,14.0%,and 5.4%rise in the percentage of normal seminiferous tubules in diabetic rats receiving rooibos,honeybush or sutherlandia,respectively,compared to the diabetic control group.The infusion control groups(rooibos,honeybush and sutherlandia)showed normal seminiferous tubules,presence of spermatozoa in the epididymal lumen,and had normal overall architecture.Both testicular and epididymal morphology were altered in the diabetic control group,but these disruptions were mildly ameliorated by rooibos,honeybush,and sutherlandia.Conclusions:The detrimental effects of diabetes on the histomorphological architecture of the testis and epididymis are mildly ameliorated by the infusions(2.0%fermented rooibos,4.0%fermented honeybush,and 0.2%unfermented sutherlandia).