Assessment of hepatic profile changes in rat diabetes induced with streptozotocin and nicotinamide

Abstract

Moringa oleifera and Raphanus sativus in streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ- NA)-induced diabetic rat
model.
Methods: Forty-eight (48) albino rats were randomly divided into eight groups of eight rats each.
Diabetes was induced in all the groups except Group I (normal control) using nicotinamide (110 mg/kg)
and streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). Groups I and II (untreated control) received only distilled water (2 mL/kg)
while Group III received 100 mg/kg of metformin. Groups IV to VIII were treated with a dose of 200
mg/kg of the herbal mixtures (HEMA-C) at different ratios of M. oleifera and R. sativus. Blood samples
were analyzed for biochemical markers while liver histopathology was assayed after 28 days of
treatment.
Results: Acute toxicity study showed that the herbal mixtures did not exhibit mortality or adverse effect
in rats up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg (LD50 > 2000 mg/kg) with a safe dose of 200 mg/kg (1/10th LD50).
Induction of diabetes significantly increased serum aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine
aminotransaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatases (ALP) and bilirubin levels in untreated control
compared to normal control (p < 0.001). Administration of the herbal mixtures, especially HEMB,
significantly (p < 0.001) restored these liver marker levels to levels comparable to metformin.
Furthermore, histological examination showed that HEMB significantly restored the STZ-NA-induced
liver damage in rats.
Conclusion: The herbal mixture possesses hepatoprotective effect and ameliorates the adverse
diabetic conditions caused by STZ-NA-induced diabetes in rats. The herbal mixture also demonstrated
better and extended therapeutic potential than the single herbs. Further pharmacological and
biochemical investigations will elucidate the mechanisms of action and clarify the potentials of the
herbal mixture as a therapeutic tool as an anti-diabetic therapy.