Determining the Effect of Cassia fistula (L) Flower Extract on Antioxidant Defense in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder with multiple etiologies characterised by chronic hyperglycemia and disturbances in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism caused by defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. There was a significant increase in blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and concomitant decrease in plasma insulin in STZ induced rats were reverted back to near normal in diabetic rats treated with cassia fistula and glibenclamide treated rats. The current study demonstrates that STZ-induced diabetic animals have increased oxidative stress. In experimental rats, the ethanolic extract of cassia fistula flowers exhibits significant antihyperglycemic as well as antioxidant activity. Our result is consistent with the results of who reported a decrease in antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT and glutathione peroxidase in diabetes mellitus. The presence of phytochemicals enhances cassia fistula flowers' ability to protect the tissue defence system against oxidative damage in STZ-induced diabetes. Our results indicate that the preventive effects of cassia fistula flowers may be due to inhibition of lipid peroxidation and scavenging of free radicals by its antioxidant nature.