Syringic Acid Alleviates Hyperglycemia by Regulating Hepatic Key Enzymes of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by the development of hyperglycemia due to impaired insulin production, insulin action, or both. The persistent hyperglycemia associated with diabetes can lead to an increased risk of developing severe health problems. This study examines whether the bioactive phenolic compound Syringic Acid (SA) mitigates hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were utilized in the investigation, and they were split into five groups: Normal (N), Normal+Syringic Acid (N+SA), Diabetic Control (DC), Diabetic+Syringic Acid (D+SA), and Diabetic+Glimepiride (D+GM). A single dose of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg) injected intraperitoneally was used to induce diabetes. Syringic Acid (SA) was given orally once a day for 60 days at a dose of 50 mg/Kg body weight. The levels of plasma insulin, glucose, glycated haemoglobin, and the activity of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes were examined. Results were compared with diabetic rats provided with the standard drug glimepiride (0.1 mg/kg). Results: Syringic acid treatment substantially lowered hyperglycemia, enhanced insulin levels, and lowered HbA1c, in diabetic rats when given at a dose of 50 mg/Kg body weight. Additionally, syringic acid exhibited the ability to considerably lower the activities of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase and glucose-6 phosphatase while significantly increasing the activities of glycolytic enzymes like pyruvate kinase and hexokinase. Conclusion: These results imply that syringic acid could potentially attenuate hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by modulating carbohydrate metabolism.