Effects of flavonoids quercetin and chrysin on lipid peroxidation and histopathological changes in liver of diabetic mice were studied and compared with the antioxidant and reducing ability of quercetin and chrysin and their ability to chelate Fe(2+) ions in vitro. Diabetes was induced in Swiss albino mice with a single intravenous injection of alloxan (75 mg kg(-1)). Two days after alloxan injection, flavonoid preparations (50 mg kg(-1) per day) were given intraperitoneally for 7 days in diabetic mice. The lipid peroxidation was evaluated by measuring the malondialdehyde production using the 2-thiobarbituric acid test. Administration of quercetin and chrysin to diabetic mice resulted in a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation level in liver tissue. Treatment of diabetic mice with flavonoids solutions results in decreased number of vacuolated cells and degree of vacuolization of the liver tissue. The protective role of flavonoids against the reactive oxygen species-induced damages in diabetic mice gives a hope that they may exert similar protective action in humans.
Keywords: Diabetes; chrysin; histopathology; lipid peroxidation; quercetin.