SHEHU TİJANİ SHITTU, IBRAHİM BELLO, SEYYİD ALLİ SİSSE SHITTU, MARYAM AKOR DEWU, TAYE LASISI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sciencia - 2025;63(1):105-120
Oxidative stress and inflammation precipitate muscular atrophy in diabetes mellitus. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Ocimum gratissimum L. (OG) is well documented. Thus, the effect of OG on muscular atrophy in diabetic rats was investigated. Twenty rats grouped as Control, OG, Diab and Diab+OG were administered distilled water or OG for 28 days. Glycogen content was determined in gastrocnemius muscle, oxidative stress biomarkers were assessed in right rectus femoris and extensor digitorum longus muscles while histomorphometry analysis was done in the contralateral muscles. Elevated blood glucose and depleted glycogen content were observed in the Diab (204.75 ± 9.95mg/dl and 0.09 ± 0.03mg/ml) and reversed in Diab+OG (90.01 ± 26.50mg/dl and 0.36 ± 0.05mg/ml). The lengths of the rectus femoris and extensor digitorum longus muscles were reduced while malonaldehyde increased in Diab (0.420 ± 0.031μmol/l) compared with Diab+OG (0.370 ± 0.01μmol/l). In conclusion, OG prevented atrophy and promoted glycogenesis by decreasing lipid peroxidation in the skeletal muscles of diabetic rats.
