Antioxidant Protective Effect of Newbouldia laevis on Hepatotoxicity in Alloxan-Induced Diabetes in Rats

Abstract

Due to some undesirable secondary reaction of synthetic drugs, natural products and plants with medicinal properties are been exploited in controlling and treating many chronic diseases including diabetes. Oxidative stress has a major effects in diabetes and the difficulties associated with it including hepatotoxicity. Newbouldia laevis is a traditional medicinal plant known to possess antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal properties. However, there is scanty information on its utilization in diabetes management. This investigation was carried out to determine the potentials of aqueous ethanolic extract of Newbouldia laevis leaves to protect hepatic tissues of rats from diabetes caused by oxidative stress and hapatocellular injury. Diabetic condition was effected in rats by single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan. Rats were slaughtered by cervical dislocation after administration of Newbouldia leave extracts at dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg bw for 21 days. Hepatic tissues were analysed for catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) activities, lipid peroxidation, lipid profile and protein content were also evaluated. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) which are hepatic biomarkers were analysed in the blood serum. Significant reduction (p<0.05) of GSH, catalase, and SOD activities were effected by diabetes induction, also rise in hepatic biomarkers and lipid peroxidation was observed. Treatment with extract at 200 mg/kg caused significant (p<0.05) increased activities of the studied antioxidant biomarkers and reduced lipid peroxidation. It also led to a reduced activity of hepatic biomarkers. These results shows antioxidant protective properties of N. laevis leaves against rise in oxidative stress and hepatocellular injury in diabetic rat’s hepatic tissues at lower dose, indicating that the extract may possess antioxidant activities in diabetics.