Effect of Lycopene on Serum Nitrite-Nitrate Levels in Diabetic Rats

The effect of lycopene on serum nitrate-nitrite levels was investigated in diabetic rats. In this investigation, 28 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, each of seven rats. These groups were control group, diabetes group, diabetes-lycopene group and lycopene group. The concentration of nitrite and nitrate was detected at high levels in diabetes group, diabetes-lycopene group and lycopene group as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Especially, the increase in the levels of nitrate in diabetes group and lycopene group was statistically significant when compared with diabetes-lycopene group and control group (P < 0.05). In addition, we also determined the proportion of nitrite/nitrate for nitric oxide radical formation. Therefore, it is important to investigate the recovery and stability of nitrite and nitrate in samples. As a result of this study, it was observed that the amounts of nitrate and nitrite increased due to oxidative stress in diabetes and also application of antioxidant lycopene caused an increase in the amounts of nitrate and nitrite levels.