Assessment of hepatic profile changes in rat diabetes induced with streptozotocin and nicotinamide.

Purpose: To determine the changes in hepatic profile during the evaluation of herbal mixtures of Moringa oleifera and Raphanus sativus in streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ- NA)-induced diabetic rat model. Methods: Forty-eight (48) albino rats were randomly divided into six groups of eight rats each. Diabetes was induced in all the groups except Group I (normal control) using nicotinamide (110 mg/kg) and streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). Groups I and II (untreated control) received only distilled water (2 mL/kg) while Group III received 100 mg/kg of metformin. Groups IV to VIII were treated with a dose of 200 mg/kg of the herbal mixtures (HEMA-C) at different ratios of M. oleifera and R. sativus. Blood samples were analyzed for biochemical markers while liver histopathology was assayed after 29 days of treatment. Results: Acute toxicity study showed that the herbal mixtures did not exhibit mortality or adverse effect in rats up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg (LD50 > 2000 mg/kg) with a safe dose of 200 mg/kg (1/10th LD50). Induction of diabetes significantly increased serum aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatases (ALP) and bilirubin levels in untreated control compared to normal control (p < 0.001). Administration of the herbal mixtures, especially HEMB, significantly (p < 0.001) restored these liver marker levels to levels comparable to metformin. Furthermore, histological examination showed that HEMB significantly restored the STZ-NA-induced liver damage in rats. Conclusion: The herbal mixture possesses hepatoprotective effect and ameliorates the adverse diabetic conditions caused by STZ-NA-induced diabetes in rats. The herbal mixture also demonstrated better and extended therapeutic potential than the single herbs. Further pharmacological and biochemical investigations will elucidate the mechanisms of action and clarify the potentials of the herbal mixture as a therapeutic tool as an anti-diabetic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]