Succinic Acid Monoethyl Ester and Metformin Regulates Carbohydrate Metabolic Enzymes and Improves Glycemic Control in Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide Induced Type2 Diabetic Rats

Objective. Succnic acid mono ethyl ester (EMS) was recently proposed as an insulinotropic agent for the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. In the present study the effect of EMS and Metformin on the activities of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes in streptozotocinnicotinamide induced type 2 diabeteic model was investigated. Methods. EMS were injected intraperitonially at doses 2, 4, and 8 ?mol/g body weight (bw) respectively for 30 days, after which blood hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin, plasma glucose and insulin, hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in liver and glycogen in liver and muscle were assayed. Results. Glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bis phosphatase were significantly increased and insulin, hemoglobin, hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glycogen were significantly decreased in diabetic rats. The enzyme activities were restored to the near normal levels in diabetic rats treated with EMS and Metformin. Conclusion. Our result suggest that non glucidic nutrient-EMS may act as a potent antidiabetic and insulinotropic agent by restoring the above biochemical alterations in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced type 2 diabetes.