Oxidative stress and
inflammation play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetes. Currently, there is a growing need to exploit plant-derived bioactive compounds to support conventional
therapies. The purpose of this study was to explore
allyl isothiocyanate (
AITC) potency in reducing oxidative and inflammatory stress along with its profitable modulation
trace element status in pathological conditions such as diabetes. Two weeks of oral
AITC treatments (2.5, 5, and 25 mg/kg
body weight per day) were evaluated in Wistar rats with diabetes induced by a high-fat diet and
streptozotocin. The study included
AITC influence on
antioxidant factors (SOD, CAT, GST, Nrf2), stress and inflammatory markers (
cortisol, CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, NF-κB), lipid peroxidation indices (
TBARS, -SH groups), and
trace element status (Fe, Zn, and Cu) in the detoxification and lymphoid organs. Independently of dose,
AITC increased
cortisol levels in rat blood serum and decreased total
thiol groups (T-SH) and
protein-bound
thiol groups (PB-SH) collaterally with raised
thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (
TBARS) in diabetic rat liver. The
inflammation and oxidative effects were enhanced by an
AITC dose increase. The highest dose of
AITC, 25 mg/kg b.w., strongly affected the
inflammation process by increasing
IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα in the blood serum, and it upregulated Nrf2
transcription factor with increased SOD, GPx, and GST activities in the liver.
AITC showed an equivocal effect on profitable modulation of disturbances in
mineral homeostasis in the liver, kidney, and spleen. Our findings revealed that two-week
AITC treatment exacerbated oxidative and
inflammation status in diabetic rats.