Synergistic hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids from Indian flax and sesame seed oils in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Background: Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids (FAs) of flaxseed oil (FSO) and sesame seed oil (SSO) that are being used in traditional foods and medicine have been investigated for their various synergistic biological potencies. However, their synergistic antidiabetic and antilipidemic properties at the world health organization (WHO) recommended ratio have not been studied. Purpose: To evaluate the synergistic antidiabetic and antipidemic potentials of bioactive-fatty acids from flaxseed (FS) and sesame seeds (SS) against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus Wistar albino rats. Study design: The study was to determine the in vitro and in vivo synergistic antidiabetic and antipidemic potentials of ω-3 and ω-6 FAs at 1:5 ratio from FSO and SSO in STZ-induced diabetes mellitus rats. Methods: Fifty-four Wistar albino rats were divided into 9 groups: normal control; diabetic control received streptozotocin 45 mg/kg b.w IP; diabetic groups received standard drug tolbutamide orally received 5mg/kg b.w; FSO and SSO orally administered with 250 and 350; 516 and 700 mg/kg b.w PO respectively, and FSO+SSO at 43+292 and 86+584 mg/kg b.w PO respectively. Blood glucose levels were observed on weekly basis. At the end of the experiment, biochemical factors such as the level of antioxidant enzymes, serum liver enzymes, malondialdehyde level, lipid profiles, blood parameters, and pancreas morphology were studied. Results: Twenty-eight days of the treatment significantly increased the in vivo antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH), whereas, malondialdehyde (MDA) level was markedly decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the pancreas and liver. A noteworthy reduction was observed in the lipid profiles of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and also significant reduction was observed in the hematological parameters such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, urea, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and decreased blood glucose levels, while, total protein (TP), hemoglobin (Hb) and insulin levels were markedly increased in the treated rats in a dose-dependent manner compared to the diabetic control. Additionally, the results were also confirmed by histopathological examinations. Conclusion: The study suggested that the ω-3 and ω-6 FAs from FSO and SSO, respectively, showed potential synergistic antidiabetic and antilipidemic effects that were mainly mediated by ω-3 and ω-6 FAs present in the respective seed oils. © 2022 The Author(s)