Young inflorescence of Cocos nucifera contributes to improvement of glucose homeostasis and antioxidant status in diabetic rats

Enhanced oxidative stress and changes in oxidant capacity observed in clinical and experimental diabetes, are thought to be the aetiology of chronic diabetic complications. The aim of the study was to investigate whether Cocos nucifera inflorescence improves glucose homeostasis and antioxidant status, 20 % w/w of inflorescence containing diet were given to diabetic Sprague Dawley rats for 45 days. Diabetes was induced in rats by alloxan administration (150 mg/kg bodyweight) intraperitoneally. Treatment with inflorescence significantly lowered blood glucose levels thereby preventing steep onset of hyperglycemia which was observed after alloxan administration. It maintained glucose tolerance and glycosylated hemoglobin close to the values observed in normal control rats. In addition, the levels of serum total cholesterol and triglycerides were also lowered. Antioxidant enzymes registered a decline in their activity in diabetic rats, thus revealing the damaging effects of free radicals generated due to alloxan administration. But their activities were reverted towards near-normal range in inflorescence-supplemented animals. Histopathological analysis of pancreas of diabetic rats showed altered morphology, which was restored to near-normal in inflorescence-treated rats. Oxidative damage in various tissues of diabetic rats as evidenced by marked elevation in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was nullified by inflorescence treatment, indicating its antioxidant efficacy in resisting oxidative damage.