Histomorphological and Biochemical Changes in the Liver Tissue Following Adjuvant Treatment with Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Antiretroviral Drugs in Diabetic Rats.

Abstract

Introduction: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has been used in management of people living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, the long-term effects cause diabetes and result in liver damage. Similarly, Hypoxis hemerocellidae (H.h) has been used traditionally to treat disease including HIV annd Diabetes. The study aimed to investigate the effects of aqueous extract of H.h on the liver cytoarchitectonic in diabetic experimental animals under antiretroviral therapy.

Methods: Thirty-six (36) adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into 6 groups namely: A ( control), B (diabetic) received distilled water, C (diabetic + 50mg/kg, H.h), D (diabetic + HAART), E ( diabetic + HAART+ 250 mg/kg VIt C), F (diabetic + HAART + 50mg/kg of H.h). Blood glucose levels, Body weight, oxidative stress markers and liver histomorphology of the experimental animals were measured and analyzed.

Results: The blood glucose levels of  animals administered with H.h were significantly reduced compared with diabetic control. Group E had a significant reduced blood glucose levels compared with other treated groups D and F. There is a significant reduction of AST in group C and E compared to other groups D and F. Group F showed a significant reduction in MDA and an improvement in GSH compared to other treated groups except group E. Histologically, H& E and PAS staining revealed an improvement in groups C and F compared to the diabetic-treated groups.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that H.hemerocallidae mitigated the metabolic effect of HAART  in diabetic rats. Still, the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects, in combination with antiretroviral therapy need further investigation at different doses.