Comparison of Momordica charantia effect on Mcl-۱ gene expression in the livers of streptozotocin diabetic andhealthy rats

Background and aims: The positive effects of medicinal herbs on diabetes have been proved in previous studies. The aim of the presentstudy was to evaluate the effect of active Momordica Charantia on the treatment of liver diseases resulting from diabetes and the expressionlevel of the Mcl-۱ gene, which is a proapoptotic gene and becomes antiapoptotic in the event of damage.Methods: In this study, ۴۲ adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into ۷ groups including healthy, diabetic, metformin, ۱۵۰ mg/kgM. charantia controls, and three groups that received the active M. charantia with doses of ۵۰, ۱۰۰, and ۱۵۰ mg/kg. All groups becamediabetic with streptozotocin injected intraperitoneally except for the control and M. charantia. Afterward, they received the active M.charantia by gavage for four weeks (three times a week). Finally, the Kruskal-Wallis method was used for comparison among the groups.The statistical tests were analyzed using SPSS software, version ۲۲.Results: The level of Mcl-۱ expression in the diabetic control group (C) was significantly higher than that in the healthy control (A)and the M. charantia-receiving control group (B, P < ۰.۰۵). The group receiving ۱۵۰ mg/kg dose of M. charantia drug (G) had a bettereffect compared to the group that received ۱۰۰ mg/kg (F), and this difference was significant (P < ۰.۰۵). This increase indicated that themedication was dose-dependent.Conclusion: In general, a reduction in the level of Mcl-۱ gene expression relied on the M. charantia dose. After the development ofdiabetes, this level significantly increased in the diabetic groups, but decreased after receiving M. charantia, leading to a decrease in theside effects and symptoms associated with diabetes.

Keywords:

Diabetes , Streptozotocin , Liver , M. charantia , Mcl-۱ gene