Oxidative damage has been suggested to be a contributory factor in development and complication of diabetes. To investigate the effect of Cassia auriculata L (CFEt) on the occurrence of oxidative stress in the brain of rats during diabetes we investigated the extent of oxidative damage as well as the status of the antioxidant defense system. Oral administration of CFEt (0.45 g/kg) to diabetic rats for 45 days resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose and significant increase in plasma insulin levels. In addition, CFEt caused significant increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and reduced glutathione in brain of diabetic rats with significant decrease in lipid peroxidative markers namely: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydroperoxides in brain, suggesting its role in protection against lipid peroxidation induced membrane damage. The effect of CFEt was better when compared with glibenclamide. Results of the present study suggest that CFEt showed antioxidant effect in addition to its antidiabetic effect in type 2 diabetic rats.
