An Experimental Study to Evaluate the Effect of Melatonin on Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes in Rat Model

Background: Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic dysfunctional group comprises of chronic hyperglycemia arising either due to defective insulin secretion, insulin action or both. The prevalence of diabetes is directly proportional to increasing age. The present study involves assessing the impact of Melatonin, and its combination with Biguanide (Metformin) on Reactive Oxygen Species in blood of rats with diabetes induced by Streptozotocin. Aim: To evaluate the effect of Melatonin and its combination with Metformin on Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in Streptozotocin induced T2DM rat model. Methodology: The current experimental investigation was carried out at the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow. Adult male Wistar Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, each group containing (n=6 rats) and assessed for 65 days. The study parameter used for assessment was- Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in response to monotherapy with Melatonin and Metformin and in combination with both Melatonin and Metformin in Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Results: The mean ROS level was assessed at Day 0 (Baseline), Day 36 and Day 65 (Final reading). On Day 65, the reduction in mean ROS was observed in all treatment groups, but statistically significant reduction was observed in combination therapy group (Metformin and Melatonin) as compared to baseline on Day 0 and to Group B (Diabetic Control) on Day 36. Conclusion: Based on current results the study concludes that Melatonin and combination with Metformin proved to be beneficial in restoring study parameter in blood samples of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in rats.