Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2002 ; 11(3): 206-9.

Antioxidant effect of Phaseolus vulgaris in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Venkateswaran S, Pari L.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India.

The antioxidant effect of an aqueous extract of Phaseolus vulgaris pods, an indigenous plant used in Ayurvedic medicine in India, was studied in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Oral administration of Phaseolus vulgaris pod extract (PPEt; 200 mg/kg body weight) for 45 days resulted in a significant reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and hydroperoxides. The extract also causes a significant increase in reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase in the liver and kidneys of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. These results clearly show the antioxidant property of PPEt. The effect of PPEt at 200 mg/kg body weight was more effective than glibenclamide.