Abstract

The obesity-associated diseases, e.g. diabetes, are spread worldwide. The polyphenols have Interesting biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-allergic, hepatoprotective, anti-thrombotic, antiviral and anti-carcinogenic activities. These constituent nutrients and bioactive food components are present in sweet cherry. Cherries are thought to have beneficial health properties, moreover, a diet with antioxidant-rich cherries significantly lowers the insulin, fasting glucose levels, key markers for the development of diabetes. In particular, within the Campania region (Italy), several sweet cherry local cultivars have been studied. Two accessions (Patanara and Mulegnana Nera) of autochthonous germplasm of Campania, which have significant differences in phenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins levels, are used to evaluate their extracts antioxidant effect in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. This study was designed to evaluate the consequence of antioxidant extracts from cherries on the blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides and serum insulin, leptin, adiponectin and resistin concentrations after 30 days of intragastrical administration of extracts of “Patanara” and “Mulegnana Nera” in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Administration of “Patanara” and “Mulegnana Nera at a concentration of 200mg/kg body weight for 30 days, significantly reduced the levels of blood glucose and serum insulin, leptin and adiponectin levels. In conclusion, in this study, cherry antioxidant extract showed a beneficial effect on the diabetic rats.

Keywords:Sweet cherry; Antioxidant; Blood glucose; Diabetes; Leptin