The effects of ethanol extract of Berberis vulgaris fruit on histopathological changes and biochemical markers of the liver damage in diabetic rats

Objective(s): Various studies have shown that the diabetes is associated with liver failure. The objective of this study was determining the effects of Berberis vulgaris fruit on histopathological and biochemical markers of liver in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, ۶۰ male Wistar rats weighing ۲۰۰-۲۵۰ g with free access to water and ad libitum were randomly divided to five twelve-membered groups including healthy control (group ۱), diabetic control (group ۲, this two groups received distilled water), treated diabetic positive control (group ۳) using dose ۱۵۰ mg/kg/day metformin, and two groups treated with doses ۲۰۰ (group ۴) and ۶۰۰ (group ۵) mg/kg/BW of B. vulgaris extracts via gavage feeding for ۸ weeks. Diabetes mellitus was experimentally induced by one dose injection of alloxan ۱۲۰ mg/kg. This pre-clinical study was performed on ۱۲۰ mg/kg alloxan induced diabetic rats. Results: The hepatic steatosis status, liver cholestasis and fibrosis were not changed in group ۴ and ۵. Glycogen deposition changed mildly and polymorphonuclear neutrophils infiltration changed moderately at group ۵. Liver hepatitis changed mildly and severely at group ۳ as well as group ۵, respectively. Glucose, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase were lower in high dose group compared to other groups. Conclusion: Results suggested that B. vulgaris extract can decrease liver damage by influencing hepatic histopathological and biochemical markers in diabetic rats.

Keywords:

Berberine , Biochemical markers , Diabetes , Histopathology , Herbal Medicine , Liver diseases