This study aims to examine the effects of
polysaccharide levan on oxidative stress and
hyperglycemia in
alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
Levan, used in this study, was a microbial
levan synthetisized by a non pathogenic bacteria recently isolated and identified as Bacillus licheniformis. Animals were allocated into four groups of six rats each: a control group (Control), diabetic group (Diab.), normal rats received
levan (L) and diabetic rats fed with
levan (DL). Treated diabetic rats were administrated with
levan in
drinking water through oral gavage for 60 days. The administration of
polysaccharide levan in diabetic rats caused a significant increase in
glycogen level by 52% and a decrease in
glucose level in plasma by 52%. Similarly, the administration of
polysaccharide levan in diabetic rats caused a decrease in the
thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (
TBARS) by 31%, 41%, 39% and 25%, an increase in
superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 40%, 50%, 44% and 34%, and in
catalase (CAT) by 18%, 20%, 12% and 18% in liver, kidney, pancreas and heart, respectively. Furthermore, a significant decrease in hepatic and renal indices toxicity was observed, i.e. alkalines
phosphatases (ALP),
aspartate and
lactate transaminases (AST and ALT) activities, total
bilirubin,
creatinine and
urea levels by 19%, 31%, 32%, 36%, 37% and 23%, respectively. The results show that administration of
polysaccharide levan can restore abnormal oxidative indice near normal levels. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that
polysaccharide levan is efficient in inhibiting
hyperglycemia and oxidative stress induced by diabetes and suggests that
levan supplemented to diet may be helpful in preventing
diabetic complications in adult rats.