Hepatoprotective potential of flavonoid-rich extracts from Gongronema latifolium benth leaf in type 2 diabetic rats via fetuin-A and tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Abstract

This study assessed the hepatoprotective potential of flavonoid-rich extracts from Gongronema latifolium Benth on diabetes-induced type 2 rats via Fetuin-A and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TnF-α). In a standard procedure, the flavonoid-rich extract was prepared. For experimental rats, streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally (45mg/kg body weight) to induce diabetes mellitus. Following this, rats were given 5% of glucose water for 24h. Hence, the animals were randomly divided into five groups of ten rats each, consisting of non-diabetic rats, diabetic controls, diabetic rats treated with low and high doses of flavonoid rich-extracts from Gongronema latifolium leaf (FREGL) (13 and 26mg/kg, respectively), and diabetic rats treated with 200mg/kg of metformin glibenclamide orally for 3 weeks. Afterwards, the animals were sacrificed, blood and liver were harvested to evaluate different biochemical parameters, hepatic gene expressions and histological examinations. The results revealed that FREGL (especially at the low dose) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphate (ALP) activities, lipid peroxidation level, as well as relative gene expressions of fetuin-A and TNF-α in diabetic rats. Furthermore, diabetic rats given various doses of FREGL showed an increase in antioxidant enzymes and hexokinase activity, as well as glucose transporters (GLUT 2 and GLUT 4), and glycogen levels. In addition, histoarchitecture of the liver of diabetic rats administered FREGL (especially at the low dose) was also ameliorated. Hence, FREGL (particularly at a low dose) may play a substantial role in mitigating the hepatopathy complication associated with diabetes mellitus.