effect of biochanin a on serum nesfatin-1 level in stz induced type 1 diabetic rat

Bioflavonoids such as biochanin a (bca), exhibit insulin mimetic or secretagogues activities and are considered as hypoglycemic compounds. nesfatin-1 is secreted from the hypothalamic nuclei and recognized as a regulatory peptide, which can increase insulin sensitivity and affect glucose metabolism. in this study, effects of bca, on serum nesfatin-1 level were examined in rats with streptozotocin (stz)-induced diabetes. we randomly divided 30 male wistar rats into 2 control (6 rats per group) and 3 diabetic groups. type i diabetes was induced using stz (55 mg/kg bw) injection. group 1 received 0.5% dmso; while group 2 received 10 mg/kg body weight of bca; group 3 (diabetic controls) received 0.5% dmso; group 4, 10 mg/kg of bca; and group 5, 15 mg/kg of bca. the levels of serum insulin, nesfatin-1, and fasting blood glucose (fbg) were determined after 42 days. the serum insulin level increased; while fbg level significantly decreased in the bca treatment groups. both treatment groups had increased nesfatin-1 levels in comparison with the control groups; however, the difference was only significant in group 5 (p value < 0.05). considering insulin and nesfatin-1 induction, bca has potential hypoglycemic effects. oral administration of 15 mg/kg bw of bca showed greater efficacy than 10 mg/kg bw of bca.