Anti-oxidative and anti-hyperglycemia effects of Triticum aestivum wheat sprout water extracts on the streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

This study was performed to investigate the anti-hyperglycemia effects of the Triticum aestivum wheat sprout (TAWS) water extracts in the diabetic mice. Diabetic experimental model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin into male Balb/c mice. Mice were divided into five groups: normal (CON), diabetic control (DM), and three experimental groups (DM-100, diabetes with TAWS extracts 100mg/kg; DM-50, diabetes with TAWS extracts 50 mg/kg; DM-25, diabetes with TAWS extracts 25 mg/kg). TAWS extracts were administered orally in diabetic mice. Body weight, food intake, and blood glucose levels were recorded for 12 days and blood insulin levels were measured at the day 12. Oral administration of TAWS extracts reduced slightly food intake and induced a little body weight gain in DM-100 groups. The blood level of glucose was decreased in the dose-dependent manner; 55% in the DM-100 group and 39.7% in the DM-50 group. The blood level of insulin also was improved 10 folds in the DM-100 group and 3.6 folds in the DM-50 group compared to the DM group. The contents of total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids in 1 g dry mass of TAWS extracts were 6.6 mg of tannic acid equivalents and 1.0 mg of 8-hydroquinolline equivalents, respectively. In addition, the antioxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activity of TAWS extracts were 1.2 mM and 1.8 mM ascorbic acid equivalents, respectively. These results suggest that TAWS water extracts could contribute to attenuate clinical symptoms of diabetes mellitus.