Effects of Green tea extract on liver histopathology and serum biomarkers of hepatic tissue injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The aim of present study was to evaluate the liver injury as a complication of diabetes mellitus and to assess the hepatoprotective properties of Green tea extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. For this purpose, 40 male Wistar rats were randomly separated into four groups, each containing 10 animals: Group 1, healthy control rats; Group 2, normal rats treated with Green tea extract (1.5%, w/v) was given in drinking water; Group 3, diabetic rats and Group 4, diabetic rats treated with Green tea extract (1.5%, w/v) in drinking water. The extract was injected in intraperitoneal route for a period of 8 weeks. Control groups received normal saline in similar manner. Diabetes was induced by single injection of STZ (75 mg/kg i.p.). At the end of experiment, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin and bilirubin were measured. For histopathological evaluation, tissue specimens were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and 5 micron thick sections with H&E stain were prepared using routine hitopathological techniques. In diabetic rats, serum levels of functional liver markers were found to be significantly increased in comparison with control group (p