The negative impact of diabetes on the liver is well recognized. This study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective properties of Quercetin in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Male Wistar rats were made diabetic with a single injection of STZ (40 mg/kg i.p.). Rats were randomly divided into four groups 8 animals each: Group 1, healthy control rats; Group 2 non-diabetic rats treated with 15 mg/kg b.w./day i.p. injection of Quercetin; Group 3, diabetic rats; Group 4, diabetic rats treated with Quercetin (15 mg/kg b.w./day, i.p.) for 8 weeks. Finally, serum ALT, AST, ALP and albumin levels as well as liver MDA contents and activities of GSH-Px, were measured to assess hepatic injury. Liver tissues of Rat in whole groups were removed then prepared for Apoptosis analysis. Liver MDA content and serum ALT, AST, ALP and bilirubin levels in Groups 3 were found to be significantly increased as compared to Group 1 (P<0.001) and these parameters in Group 4 were significantly decreased as compared to Group 3 (P<0.001). Liver GSH-Px contents and serum albumin level in Group 3 was significantly decreased as compared to Group 1 (P<0.001) and were found to be significantly increased in Group 4 as compared to Groups 3 (P<0.001). Histopathological examination revealed that diabetes increased apoptotic index in liver tissue while the treatment of diabetic rats with Quercetin was shown to have anti-apoptosis effect. This study showed that Quercetin have hepatoprotective effects in experimentally induced diabetic rats. |
