Brassica rapa L. extract alleviate early hepatic injury in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Liver insufficiency is one of the most important consequences of diabetes mellitus. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of turnip root ethanolic extract (TREE) on early hepatic injuries in alloxanized-diabetic rats. Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 equal groups including: normal healthy, normal+TREE, diabetic and 4- diabetic+TREE. Diabetes was induced with a single injection of alloxan (120 mg/kg i.p.). TREE treatment groups received TREE (200 mg/kg) daily for 8 weeks by means of gavage. At the end of the experimental period, levels of functional liver markers [aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)], TB, albumin and total protein (TP) were assessed in the serum. Product of lipid peroxidation (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity was also assayed in liver homogenates. Finally, the biochemical findings were matched with histopathological verification. Statistically, the quantitative data obtained were compared among the groups by one-way analysis of variance followed by Turkey post-hoc test. Statistical significance was considered as p<0.05. In the diabetic rats, TREE significantly decreased the levels of serum biomarkers of hepatic injury. Furthermore, TREE significantly decreased the lipid peroxidation and elevated the decreased values of antioxidant enzymes in diabetic rats. Histopathologically, the changes were parallel to the biochemical findings. The results obtained showed that TREE alleviates early hepatic injuries in the rats with experimentally induced diabetes.   Key words: Brassica rapa L., diabetes, hepatic injury, alloxan, rats.