Protective Role of Loranthus regularis against Liver Dysfunction, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin Diabetic Rat Model

Ahmed Z Alanazi; Faleh Alqahtani; Ramzi A A Mothana; Mohamed Mohany; Hatem M Abuohashish; Mohammed M Ahmed; Salim S Al-Rejaie

doi:10.1155/2020/5027986

Protective Role of Loranthus regularis against Liver Dysfunction, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin Diabetic Rat Model

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020 Dec 10:2020:5027986. doi: 10.1155/2020/5027986. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Ahmed Z Alanazi¹, Faleh Alqahtani¹, Ramzi A A Mothana², Mohamed Mohany¹, Hatem M Abuohashish³, Mohammed M Ahmed¹, Salim S Al-Rejaie¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 55760, Riyadh-1145, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 55760, Riyadh-1145, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Biomedical Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam-31441, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Earlier studies revealed the potential therapeutic values of Loranthus regularis (L. regularis). This study evaluated Loranthus regularis (L. regularis) extract systemic antidiabetic effects and benefits against diabetic hepatocellular injuries through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways using the streptozotocin (STZ) model in Wistar albino rats. After diabetes induction, animals were orally treated with L. regularis extract for 4 weeks. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were estimated. Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), caspase-3, nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E-2 (PGE-2) were estimated in serum. In liver, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) and reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as the proinflammatory cytokines and enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reeducates (GR), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were assayed. Finally, the degree of hepatic tissue damage was evaluated histologically. Treatment of the diabetic rats with L. regularis extract markedly reduced the elevated serum levels of glucose, ALT, AST, TC, TG, LDL, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, caspase-3, NO, and PGE-2. L. regularis extract also improved serum levels of insulin and HDL. The elevated TBARS, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in hepatic tissue of diabetic animals were reduced by L. regularis. Moreover, L. regularis extract significantly restored the diminished hepatic GSH level and enzymatic activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, and GST in diabetic animals. The biochemical protective effects of L. regularis were associated with improved histological hepatocellular integrity and architecture. Taken together, L. regularis has therapeutic effects against diabetic-induced hepatic complications. The restored liver functions and cellular damage might be mediated through free radicals scavenging and proinflammatory cytokine inhibition.