Lung Oxidative and Nitrosative Changes in Type II Diabetic Male Wistar Rats Treated with Lauric Acid

Abstract

Background: Sustained hyperglycemia in diabetes has been reported to cause excessive production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that mediate oxidative and nitrosative stress in the lungs. Lauric acid was reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and insulinotropic properties.
Methodology: This study was designed to investigate the effect of lauric acid on the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the lungs of type II diabetic male Wistar rats. Thirty male Wistar rats were used for this study. They were divided into six groups of five rats each: Groups 1 and 2 served as non-diabetic and diabetic untreated respectively, while Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 were diabetic Wistar rats treated with 125 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg lauric acid and 100 mg/kg metformin respectively.
Results: There was a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in the level of MDA and activity of iNOS in the lungs of type II diabetic male Wistar rats treated with lauric acid when compared to that of the diabetic untreated. The activities of SOD and CAT in the lungs of type II diabetic Wistar rats treated with lauric acid were significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05) when compared to that of diabetic untreated.
Conclusion: Lauric acid ameliorates oxidative and nitrosative changes in the lungs of type II diabetic male Wistar rats.