Study on protective effect of Naringenin (Citrus flavonone) on incipient diabetic hepatopathy in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract    Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder and its incidence is considered to be high all over the world. Hepatic insufficiency is one of the most important consequences in this disease. A multitude of drugs has been described for the treatment of diabetes throughout the world. The aim of the present study was to assess the protective effect of Naringenin on early liver injury in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 different groups of 10 rats each, including healthy control rats, normal healthy rats receiving Naringenin (50 mg/kg), diabetic rats and diabetic rats receiving Naringenin (50 mg/kg). Diabetes was induced with a single injection of alloxan (120 mg/kg i.p.). Naringenin groups received the drug daily for 3 weeks through gavage. At the end of the experiment, levels of liver function marker enzymes AST (Aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (Alanine aminotransferase) and ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase), TB (Total Bilirubin), Alb (Albumin) and TP (Total Proteins) were assessed in serum. Product of lipid peroxidation (Malondialdehyde; MDA), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were also assayed in liver homogenate to evaluate antioxidant activity. Moreover, histopathological observations were made to assess the degree of hepatic injury. In alloxanized diabetic rats, Naringenin significantly decreased the levels of serum biomarkers of hepatic injury and TB, and elevated the levels of Alb and TP. Furthermore, Naringenin significantly decreased the lipid peroxidation and elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes in these rats. Histopathological changes were in agreement with biochemical findings. The findings of this study indicated that Naringenin due to its antioxidant activities protects rats liver from early diabetic hepatopathy.