Study of the effects of hyperglycemia and Launaea acanthodes extract administration on disorders of liver function in rats

Introduction: Liver plays a pivotal role in glucose and lipid homeostasis. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of L. acanthodes hydro-alcoholic extract administration on the liver functional and histological parameters in hyperglycemic rats. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups; control, hyperglycemic (STZ), hyperglycemic + insulin (STZ+Ins) and hyperglycemic + extract (STZ+Ext). After a single injection of STZ (55 mg/kg, i.p.) and confirmation of hyperglycemia induction, rats of STZ+Ins and STZ+Ext were daily treated with insulin (5 IU/kg/day) and extract (150 mg/kg/day), respectively, for 21 days. To assess the serum levels of biochemical parameters and liver markers, all rats were kept until the 7th week and then they were sacrificed and their livers were histologically examined. Results: Serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, glucose and triglyceride in STZ and STZ+Ins groups were significantly increased in comparison with control and STZ+Ext groups at the 2nd week. At the 4th week, although the mean levels of liver enzymes were increased in STZ+Ext (p<0.05) but its level of significance was lower that STZ and STZ+Ins groups (p<0.001) groups. Microscopic examination of liver sections showed no histological difference between control and experimental samples. Conclusion: Streptozotocin induced hyperglycemia may result in abnormal levels of liver markers. This liver malfunction is probably caused by hepatocyte membrane damage due to the free radical production induced by hyperglycemia. It seems that antioxidant property of flavonoids constituents of L.acanthodes, may prevent hepatocytes damage and therefore reduce the serum levels of liver markers.