Comparative Biochemical and Histopathological Studies on the Efficacy of Metformin and Virgin Olive Oil against Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Nwachuku

Tamuno-Emine

et al. 2019

JOCAMR

Diabetes mellitus is an epidemic, with a huge disease burden on the patients. This has led to an increase in the use of herbal remedies and combination therapies to reduce this burden. Aim: This study evaluates the biochemical and oxidative changes in type 2 diabetic rats, treated with metformin and the polyherbal drug diawell. Methodology: A total of 35 male Wistar albino rats weighing between 120-220 g were used for this study. The rats were placed on high fat diet, and diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared streptozotocin (STZ) (45 mg/kg body wt). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was determined using the glucose oxidase method. Fasting plasma insulin (FPI), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were quantitatively determined by a rat-specific sandwich-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Insulin resistance (IR) was determined using the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) method. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was determined by the ratio of TOS to TAS. Phytochemical analysis was also done on the herbal tablet. Results: Mean FPG levels were significantly lower (p˂0.05) in all groups, except the group administered diawell, which was not significantly different (p>0.05), compared to the diabetic control. Mean FPG levels were significantly higher (p˂0.05) in the metformin group, diawell group, but showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the combination group, compared to the negative control. HOMA-IR was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the diabetic control compared to the negative control and treatment groups. The metformin and diawell groups had significantly higher (p˂0.05) HOMA-IR values, whereas the combination (metformin + diawell) showed no significant difference (p>0.05) when compared to the negative control. TOS was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the diabetic control compared to the negative control and treatment groups. The metformin and diawell groups had significantly higher (p˂0.05) TOS values, whereas the combination (metformin + diawell) showed no significant difference (p>0.05) when compared to the negative control. There was significantly lower (p˂0.05) TAS levels in the diabetic and treatment groups, compared to the negative control. OSI values were significantly lower (p˂0.05) in all groups when compared to the diabetic control. Also, OSI values were significantly higher (p˂0.05) in the treatment groups compared to the negative control. Conclusion: There was depletion of antioxidant parameters and an increase in oxidative stress in the diabetic rats. Administration of metformin and the polyherbal tablet diawell individually, were not effective in correcting the pathological and biochemical changes associated with diabetes. However, the combination treatment produced a better glycaemic response and attenuated the oxidant status in the rats. Antioxidant therapy should be incorporated in diabetes management, and anti-diabetic herbals properly evaluated.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Biochemical and Oxidative Changes in High Fat Diet/Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats Treated with Metformin and the Polyherbal Diawell

Nwachuku

Tamuno-Emine

et al. 2019

JOCAMR

“…The improved liver histology compared to the diabetic control could be due to the antioxidant potential of the drugs [31], thus providing hepatoprotective effects on the liver. This is in consonance with the work of Balamash, et al [35], in which STZ-induced diabetic rats had apoptotic hepatocytes with degenerated nuclei. Also, Otunola & Afolayan [34] found hepatocytes with nearly normal appearance and reduced necrosis in glibenclamide and aqueous extract of garlic, ginger and cayenne pepper (GCCP) treated diabetic rats.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Lipidaemic and Hepatic Status of Type 2 Diabetic Rats Treated with the Polyherbal Capsule Glucoblock

Elechi-Amadi

Ezeiruaku

et al. 2020

JAMPS

The scourge of diabetes has led to an increase in the use of complementary and alternative medicine. The lack of regulation and control leads to the indiscriminate use of these herbals, with potential risk to patients. Aim: This study evaluates the lipidaemic and hepatic status of type 2 diabetic rats treated with the polyherbal capsule glucoblock. Methodology: A total of 35 male Wistar albino rats weighing between 120-220 g were used for this study. The rats were placed on high fat diet and diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared streptozotocin (STZ) (45 mg/kg body wt). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was determined using the glucose oxidase method. Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG) and High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined using enzymatic methods. Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated using the Friedewald’s equation. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) were determined using Reitman-Frankel method, while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was determined using the colorimetric phenolphthalein method. Liver sections were stained using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining technique, and phytochemical analysis was also done on the herbal capsule. Results: The results show no significant differences in TC levels in all groups compared to the negative control. TG level was significantly higher in the diabetic control group when compared to the negative control. TG level in the singular treatment groups were significantly lower, but the combination group (glibenclamide + glucoblock) showed no significant difference compared to the diabetic control. The negative control had significantly higher HDL-C compared to the diabetic control and treatment groups. There were no significant differences in HDL-C levels in all the treatment groups, when compared to the diabetic control. The negative control had significantly lower LDL-C compared to the diabetic control and treatment groups. There were no significant differences in LDL-C levels in all the treatment groups, when compared to the diabetic control. ALT, AST and ALP levels were significantly higher in the diabetic control, but was significantly reduced to normal levels by the treatments. Liver sections of the negative control showed normal histoarchitecture. The diabetic control showed inflammation and fatty deposition. The treatment groups showed a nearly normal histoarchitecture, with fatty deposits. Conclusion: High fat diet in combination with a sub-diabetic dose of streptozotocin produced significant diabetes in the Wistar rats with dyslipidaemia and elevated liver enzyme levels. The anti-diabetic treatments, glibenclamide and glucoblock did not correct the dyslipidaema caused by diabetes. However, the treatments had equipotent hepatoprotective effect and restored liver enzyme levels to normal as well as improving liver histology.

“…The improved liver histology compared to the diabetic control could be due to the antioxidant potential of the drugs [30], thus providing hepatoprotective effects on the liver. This is in consonance with the work of Balamash et al [32], in which STZinduced diabetic rats had apoptotic hepatocytes with degenerated nuclei. Treatment with metformin, olive oil and their combination had hepatoprotective effects on the liver, restoring the liver histology.…”

Section: Groups Alt (Iu/l) Ast (Iu/l) Alp (Iu/l)supporting

confidence: 92%

“…The findings are in consonance with the works of Salih et al [29] and Khajuria et al [31], in which STZ-induced diabetes significantly altered liver parameters resulting in elevated levels of AST, ALT, ALP and acid phosphatase (ACP) in experimental animals. In a similar study, Balamash et al [32] observed significantly elevated ALT, AST, and ALP levels in STZinduced diabetic rats. In their study, ALP levels remained significantly higher in the diabetic rats after treatment with metformin and or olive oil for 6 weeks.…”

Section: Groups Alt (Iu/l) Ast (Iu/l) Alp (Iu/l)mentioning

confidence: 69%

Therapeutic Effects of the Anti-diabetic Polyherbal Drug Diawell in Combination with Metformin on Liver and Lipid Parameters in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Nwachuku

Brown

et al. 2019

JOCAMR

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most important diseases worldwide. It affects several organ systems including the liver and lipid metabolism. Many herbal formulations have shown anti-diabetic potential, however, their safety and efficacy remain a debate in the medical community. Aim: This study evaluates the therapeutic effects of the anti-diabetic polyherbal drug diawell in combination with metformin on liver enzyme and lipid profile in type 2 diabetic rats. Methodology: A total of 35 male Wistar albino rats weighing between 120-220 g were used for this study. The rats were placed on high fat diet, and diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared streptozotocin (STZ) (45 mg/kg body wt). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was determined using the glucose oxidase method. Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG) and High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined using enzymatic methods. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated using the Friedewald equation. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined using Reitman-Frankel method, while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was determined using the colorimetric phenolphthalein method. Liver sections were stained using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining technique, and phytochemical analysis was also done on the herbal tablet. Results: The results show no significant differences in mean TC levels in all groups. TG level was significantly higher in the diabetic control when compared to the negative control. There were no significant differences in TG levels in the metformin group, and diawell group when compared to the diabetic control. TG levels in the combination group (metformin + diawell) was significantly lower versus the diabetic control, and showed no significant difference compared to the negative control. HDL-C was significantly higher in the negative control when compared to the diabetic control and the treatment groups. There were no significant differences in HDL-C levels in all the treatment groups, when compared to the diabetic control. LDL-C levels were significantly lower in the negative control compared to the diabetic control and treatment groups. There were no significant differences in LDL-C levels in all the treatment groups, when compared to the diabetic control. The diabetic control had significantly higher ALT, AST and ALP levels compared to the negative control and treatment groups. All the treatment groups showed no significant differences in ALT and AST levels compared to the negative control. Liver sections of the negative control showed normal histoarchitecture. The diabetic control showed inflammation and fatty deposition. The treatment groups showed a nearly normal histoarchitecture, with fatty deposits. Conclusion: High fat diet in combination with 45 mg/kg of STZ produced significant diabetes in the Wistar rats with dyslipidaemia and elevated liver enzyme levels. Metformin and the polyherbal tablet diawell had no impact on the lipid levels as it did not correct the dyslipidaema, however, the treatments showed hepatoprotective potentials and restored liver enzyme levels to normal. Lipid lowering drugs should be included in the management of type 2 diabetes, and there should be proper evaluation of anti-diabetic herbal products.