none 10.31254/phyto.2026.15211 BioMed Research Publishers BioMed Research Publishers 16195 194896724 316921 20260514160550882 10.31254 2026-05-14T16:05:59Z 2026-05-14T16:05:58Z 0 The Journal of Phytopharmacology J Phytopharmacol 2320480X 10.31254/phyto https://phytopharmajournal.com/ 05 08 2026 15 2 Utpal Kant Singh Department of General Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India Chanda Hemaliya Department of General Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India Santosh Kumar Singh Department of General Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India Arun Kumar Singh Department of General Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, leading to oxidative and nitrosative stress that contributes to microvascular and macrovascular complications. Alterations in antioxidant defense mechanisms and increased production of reactive oxygen species play a key role in diabetes-associated tissue damage. Objective: To evaluate oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activity, and the expression of insulin signaling- and glucose transporter-related genes in patients with diabetes mellitus compared with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), NADPH oxidase activity, nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), and lipid peroxidation (LPO; malondialdehyde levels), were assessed in healthy controls (n = 15) and diabetic patients (n = 10). Gene expression analysis of insulin signaling and glucose transporter genes (IRS1, IRS2, GLUT1-4, and PPARG) was performed using quantitative PCR and normalized using the 2⁻ΔΔCt method. Results: Diabetic patients exhibited significantly reduced SOD activity (3.0 ± 0.3 vs 4.7 ± 0.4, p < 0.01) and NADPH oxidase activity (4.3 ± 0.5 vs 6.7 ± 0.6, p < 0.01) compared to controls. In contrast, NOx levels (48.0 ± 5.5 vs 23.0 ± 4.0, p < 0.001) and lipid peroxidation (3.9 ± 0.5 vs 1.5 ± 0.3, p < 0.001) were significantly increased. Gene expression analysis revealed significant downregulation of IRS1, IRS2, and GLUT1-4, while PPARG expression was significantly upregulated in diabetic patients. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that diabetes mellitus is associated with oxidative stress imbalance and impaired antioxidant defence, along with altered insulin signaling gene expression. These changes may contribute to disease progression and complications, highlighting oxidative stress as a potential therapeutic target. 05 08 2026 196 202 1 10.31254/biomed-crossmark-policy www.biomedresearch.org false 10.31254/phyto.2026.15211 https://phytopharmajournal.com/articles/abstracts/902/year=2026&vol=15&issue=2