Vascular Effects of Avocado Seed Glycosides during Diabetes-induced Endothelial Damage

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relationship between vascular damage and diabetes mellitus was exploited using avocado seed extracts. The purpose of the study was to understand the therapeutic relevance of glycosides compared to standard vascular and anti-diabetic drugs. Constituent Avocado Seed Glycosides (ASG) were analysed and administered to rats with Diabetes-Induced Vascular Damage (DIVD). METHODS: The rats were first administered with streptozotocin and screened after seven days for alterations in blood glucose, insulin, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), Von Willebrand factor (VWF), Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAS), eNOx, and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Only rats that satisfied these criteria were recruited and treated with either glibenclamide, met.su + losart, or 200 mg/kg body weight ASG for 28 days. RESULTS: There was an abundance of digitoxin (13.41 mg/100g), digoxin (17.98 mg/100g), avicularin (165.85 mg/100g), and hyperoside (282.51 mg/100g). ASG or met.su + losart exhibited slight modulatory properties on glucose homeostasis. Rats with DIVD showed elevated renin, angiotensin, VCAM-1 and Lp-PLA2 levels but slightly decreased with glibenclamide treatment and normalized with ASG or met.su + losart administration. All treatments normalized Hcy levels. DIVD caused the overproduction of CnT, LDH, Crt-K, LDL-c, TG, and TC and suppressed HDL-c but was completely normalized by the ASG. Water intake remained altered in treated rats. CONCLUSION: The ASG had no relevant effect on glucose homeostasis during DIVD but showed significant vasoprotective properties.