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

Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology

A.A  Abolfathi ¹ (Department of Biological Science, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran)
علی  Rezaie ² (Department of Clinical Sciences, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran)
GH  Mousavi ³ (Department of Clinical Sciences, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran)
M.R  Valilou ⁴ (Department of Veterinary Medicine, Shabestar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shabestar, Iran)
بهبود  Jafari ⁵ (Department of Microbiology, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran)

Received: 2011-09-26 Accepted : 2011-12-31 Published : 2011-11-22

Keywords: liver, Diabetes mellitus, Rat, Histopathology, Green tea, Biomarkers of hepatic tissue injury,

Abstract :

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<0.05), while this markers in diabetic rats treated with Green tea extract  significantly decreased as compared to diabetic rats. Histopathological findings were in consistent with biochemical results. The data obtained proved that Green tea extract has hepatoprotective activity against diabetic hepatopathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

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