Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, and PPAR-Gamma Modulating Effects of Extracts from the Leaves and Fruits of Jute Mallow (Corchorus olitorius) in High-Fat Diet-Fed, Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic rats

Abstract

Medicinal plants are increasingly gaining attention in diabetes management due to their cost-effectiveness and therapeutic potential. This study investigated and compared the antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of Jute (Corchorus olitorius) fruit and leaf extracts in rats fed with a high-fat diet, streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Rats received 1000 and 1800 mg/kg body weight (bw) of the extracts of the leaf and fruit of Corchorus olitorius for 28 days. Antidiabetic effects were assessed by measuring glucose levels and glucose metabolism-related gene expression. Antioxidant effects were evaluated by measuring antioxidant enzyme activities and TNF-α expression. Notably, the C. olitorius leaf extract exhibited more pronounced effects, including a 59.7% reduction in glucose concentration compared to 29.3% for the fruit extract, suggesting its potential as a more effective antidiabetic agent. However, weight gain was more significant with the fruit extract (14.1% vs. 8.9% for the leaf extract). The leaf extract increased the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver, pancreas, and kidneys, and upregulated NRF-1 mRNA expression. Additionally, the leaf extract positively modulated glucose metabolism-related genes, including Akt, GSK-3β, and GLUT-2. Inflammation, a hallmark of diabetes, was relatively inhibited by the leaf extract, as evidenced by reduced TNF levels. Both extracts increased PPAR-γ expression and reduced inflammatory cytokine production, with the C. olitorius leaf extract exhibiting more pronounced effects. These findings unveil the therapeutic potential of C. olitorius leaf and fruit extracts in managing diabetes and related complications, with the leaf extract displaying better activity. The revealed nutraceutical potentials of C. olitorius leaf and fruits could enhance its utilization and large-scale production.