Effect of apigenin on streptozotocin-induced diabetic liver injury in rats

Abstract

Objective To investigate the protective effects of Apigenin (APG) on hepatic in diabetic rats. Methods The experimental diabetes model were made by intraperitoneal injecting STZ. The rats were randomly devided into six groups: a normal control group, a diabetes model control group, APG 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg treated groups, and the drug was given by intraperitoneal injection. 4 weeks later, the body weight, ratio of hepatic weight and body weight were detected; the histopathological changes of hepatic tissue were observed by HE staining; the content of ALT/AST/LDH in serum were determined; the activity of SOD/GSH-Px/CAT and the content of MDA in hepatic tissue were determined. Results Compared with the diabetes model control group, the body weight of APG(10, 20, 40) mg/kg treated groups were significantly increased (261.3 ± 15.8 g, 274.2 ± 18.4 g, 265.9 ± 19.0 g vs. 250.8 ± 21.4 g, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the ratio of hepatic weight and body weight were significantly decreased (27.7 ± 5.69, 26.2 ± 4.91, 27.3 ± 4.58 vs. 32.9 ± 5.85, P<0.05 or P<0.01); the hepatic tissue histopathological changes of APG-treated groups were significantly improved; the level of ALT in serum of APG (5, 10, 20 and 40) mg/kg treated groups were significantly decreased (1 039.3 ± 453.9 U/L, 917.6 ± 445.2 U/L, 828.4 ± 309.5 U/L, 721.7 ± 318.3 U/L vs. 1 205.2 ± 484.1 U/L; P<0.05 or P<0.01), AST were significantly decreased (97.8 ± 23.8 U/L, 90.1 ± 19.6 U/L, 81.7 ± 15.7 U/L, 86.4 ± 19.2 U/L vs. 105.3 ± 25.7 U/L; P<0.05, P<0.01), LDH were also significantly decreased (983.7 ± 192.6 U/L, 918.3 ± 212.9 U/L, 830.4 ± 174.2 U/L, 871.8 ± 183.1 U/L vs. 1 102.8 ± 211.6 U/L; P<0.05 or P<0.01); the activity of SOD in hepatic tissue of APG (10, 20, 40) mg/kg treated groups were significantly increased (10.5 ± 1.9 U/mg, 11.6 ± 2.1 U/mg, 10.5 ± 2.0 U/mg vs. 9.1 ± 1.8 U/mg, P<0.05, P<0.01), GSH-Px were significantly increased (14.2 ± 2.7 U/mg, 15.3 ± 2.9 U/mg, 14.6 ± 2.6 U/mg vs. 12.9 ± 2.3 U/mg; P<0.05, P<0.01), CAT were significantly increased (3.15 ± 0.90 U/mg, 3.58 ± 0.88 U/mg, 3.31 ± 1.09 U/mg vs. 2.58 ± 0.79 U/mg, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the content of MDA was significantly decreased (5.03 ± 1.70 nmol/mg, 4.66 ± 1.51 nmol/mg, 4.73 ± 1.65 nmol/mg vs. 5.98 ± 1.62 nmol/mg; P<0.05 or P<0.01). And the treatment effect of APG 20 mg/kg groups was the most significant. Conclusion APG had antioxidant enzyme activity, besides its reducing the damage of free radical, and protecting the hepatic tissue of diabetic rats effects. Key words: Apigenin; Diabetes; Hepatic tissue; Protection