Protective effects of methanolic broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) extract on metabolic dysfunction and hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis oxidative stress in a rat model of diet-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Neurological complications of diabetes require investigation of botanical therapeutic alternatives for management. This study investigated the protective effects of methanolic extract from Brassica oleracea var. italica (broccoli) florets (MEBr) against metabolic dysfunction and neuroendocrine oxidative stress in a cafeteria diet-induced T2DM rodent model. The therapeutic efficacy of MEBr was evaluated through biochemical parameters including blood glucose, lipid profiles, malondialdehyde, and glutathione levels in hypothalamic-pituitary tissues. Male Wistar rats underwent random assignment to four experimental cohorts (n = 12): Control, Control + MEBr, cafeteria diet (CAF), and CAF + MEBr. Groups receiving MEBr treatment were administered 200 mg/kg orally during the concluding 6 weeks of the 6-month protocol. Cafeteria feeding effectively established diabetic phenotype through elevated glycemia, abnormal lipid profiles, and glucose intolerance development. MEBr supplementation significantly attenuated cafeteria diet-induced weight gain, normalized glycemic control, and restored lipid profiles. Notably, MEBr protected the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis by reducing lipid peroxidation and enhancing endogenous antioxidant defenses. Phytochemical analysis identified gallic acid, rutin, and syringic acid as major bioactive compounds contributing to the observed effects. These findings suggest that MEBr offers multifaceted protection against T2DM complications through modulation of oxidative stress and metabolic pathways.