Effect of Taraxacum officinale Leaf Extract on Liver Antioxidant Status in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

The study aimed at evaluating liver antioxidant status in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wistar rats following treatment with aqueous Taraxacum officinale leaf extract. The rats were divided into six groups of 6 rats each: Normal control, Diabetic control, Non-diabetic rats + 100 mg/kgbw extract, Non-diabetic rats + 200 mg/kgbw extract, Diabetic rats + 100 mg/kgbw extract and Diabetic rats + 200 mg/kg-bw extract. After the treatment period, the animals were sacrificed and the liver was collected, homogenized for biochemical analyses. Biochemical assays such as the levels of nitrite, lipid peroxidation product (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH) and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD and glutathione peroxidase, GPx) as well as Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) were determined using established techniques. Lipid peroxidation and nitrite level decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in diabetic rats treated with 100 mg/kgbw and 200 mg/kgbw Taraxacum officinale extracts as compared to the untreated diabetic control. There was no significant difference in FRAP value in diabetic groups treated with 100mg/kgbw and 200mg/kgbw when compared with the diabetic control. Reduced GSH concentration as well as SOD activity increased significantly in diabetic groups treated with 100 mg/kgbw and 200 mg/kgbw Taraxacum officinale extracts as compared to the untreated diabetic control while GPx activity decreased significantly in the treated diabetic rats. The results indicate that Taraxacum officinale leaf extract could enhance liver anitioxidant status, hence, suggest its usefulness in ameliorating diabetic-induced liver injury.