The effect of oral administration of chard on contractile reactivity of isolated aorta in diabetic rats

Abstract

Background: Chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. Cicla) administration could improve the activity of antioxidant systems such as gluthatione and has a hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic property. Objective: To evaluate the effect of oral administration of chard on the contractile reactivity of isolated aorta in diabetic rats. Methods: This experimental study was conducted at the School of Medicine, Shahed University in 2003. Male Wistar rats were divided into control, chard-treated control, diabetic, and chard-treated diabetic groups. For induction of diabetes, streptozotcin (STZ) was intraperitoneally administered (60 mg/Kg). Chard-treated groups received chard mixed with standard pelleted food at a weight ratio of 1/15. After one month, contractile reactivity of aortic rings to KCl and noradrenaline was determined using isolated tissue setup. Findings: Serum glucose level showed a significant increase (409/4 and 401/3 mg/dl) in diabetic group at 2nd and 4th weeks (P