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Background: Alteration in antioxidant defence and increase in oxidative stress that results in tissue injury is characteristic of diabetes. We evaluated the protective effects of kolaviron (a flavonoid complex extracted from the seeds of Garcinia kola) on hepatic antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and apoptosis in diabetic rats., Methods: To induce diabetes, rats were injected with streptozotocin intraperitoneally at a single dose of 50 mg/kg. Kolaviron (100 mg/kg) was administered orally for 6 weeks (5 times weekly). Activities of liver antioxidant enzymes was analysed with Multiskan Spectrum plate reader. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used in the analysis of MDA (malondialdehyde), a product of lipid peroxidation. Apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay., Result: Diabetic rats exhibited a significant increase in the peroxidation of hepatic lipids as observed from the elevated level of malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC), level of reduced glutathione (GSH), ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH: GSSG) and catalase (CAT) activity were decreased in the liver of diabetic rats. The activities of GPX (glutathione peroxidase) and SOD (superoxide dismutase) were unaltered in diabetic rats. TUNEL assay revealed increased apoptotic cell death in the liver. Kolaviron attenuated lipid peroxidation and apoptosis, increased CAT activity, GSH levels and GSH: GSSG ratio. The ORAC of kolaviron-treated diabetic liver was restored to near-normal values., Conclusion: Kolaviron protects the liver against oxidative and apoptotic damage induced by hyperglycemia.

Background: Chronic inflammation plays a crucial role in hyperglycemia-induced liver injury. Kolaviron (KV), a natural biflavonoid from Garcinia kola seeds have been shown to possess anti- inflammatory properties which has not been explored in diabetes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effect of KV on pro-inflammatory proteins in the liver of diabetic rats., Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg/kg) in male Wistar rats. Kolaviron (100 mg/kg) was administered orally five times a week for six weeks. The concentrations of cytokines and chemokine were measured using Bio-plex Pro™ magnetic bead-based assays (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, USA). Plasma glucose and serum biomarkers of liver dysfunction were analyzed with diagnostic kits in an automated clinical chemistry analyzer. Insulin concentration was estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA)., Result: Kolaviron (100mg/kg) treatment significantly ameliorated hyperglycemia and liver dysfunction. Serum levels of hepatic marker enzymes were significantly reduced in kolaviron treated diabetic rats. Kolaviron prevented diabetes induced increase in the hepatic levels of proinflammatory cytokines; interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1)., Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the hepatoprotective effects of kolaviron in diabetic rats may be partly associated with its modulating effect on inflammatory responses.