The anti-oxidant and the anti-diabetic effects of Terminalia chebula and Withania somnifera in subclinically diabetic dogs

The present study evaluated the antioxidant as well as the anti-diabetic potential of Terminalia chebula (Haritaki) and Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) in subclinically diabetic dogs.

A total of thirty subclinically diabetic dogs were divided into five groups of six animals each; Group I (Positive control), Group II (T. chebula extract), Group III (W. somnifera extract), Group IV (T. chebula and W. somnifera extracts at 1:1 ratio) and Group V (N- acetylcysteine). Six apparently healthy dogs were kept as negative control (Group VI) for the study. The animals were evaluated based on diabetic biomarkers (Random blood glucose, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, serum fructosamine and serum insulin) and oxidative stress markers (lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities) on days 0, 15 and 30 of the study.

Significant oxidative stress was observed in the subclinically diabetic dogs and the supplementation of N- acetylcysteine, T. chebula and W. somnifera effectively curbed the oxidative impairments and further progression of diabetes. The improvement in oxidative, as well as diabetic biomarkers, was predominant in Group V animals, followed by Group IV, Group II and Group III. It may be concluded that therapeutic modulation of redox mechanisms may aid in the clinical management of subclinical diabetes mellitus, however, the mechanisms involved should be further explored.