RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present work was to evaluate the possible beneficial effects of F. latisecta on blood glucose, lipids, and diabetes-related changes in the liver and kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 6) normal control rats, diabetic control rats, diabetic rats treated for 4 weeks with F. latisecta root (400 mg/kg/day), and diabetic rats treated with F. latisecta aerial parts (400 mg/kg/day). RESULTS: Induction of diabetes significantly (p < 0.05) increased the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Diabetes also increased (p < 0.05) oxidative stress in the kidney and liver (decrease of thiol and increase of superoxide dismutase). The root and aerial parts of F. latisecta significantly reduced the level of LDL (p < 0.05) and restored the content of thiol (p < 0.05) and superoxide dismutase (p < 0.01) in the kidney and liver. F. latisecta had no significant effect on the levels of FBG, BUN, AST, and ALT. The root of F. latisecta also reduced the serum level of total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and prevented the progression of hyperglycemia. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that F. latisecta may improve diabetic dyslipidemia by reducing serum LDL. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Due to antioxidant effects of Zataria multiflora (ZM) and Carvacrol (CAR) in many cases and the prominent role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hepatotoxicity induced by Adriamycin (ADR), the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of ZM and CAR on ADR-induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS: Twenty four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups including: 1)Control, 2)Adriamycin (ADR), 3,4) ZM + ADR and CAR + ADR that received ZM and CAR for 28 consecutive days. Blood samples were collected on the days 0, 14 and 28 to determine the alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Also, the hepatic redox markers were evaluated. RESULTS: ADR significantly increased ALP, ALT and AST in comparison with the control (p < 0.05 - p < 0.001). In CAR + ADR group, the serum ALP, ALT and AST were significantly reduced compared to those of the ADR group (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). Also, in ZM + ADR group, serum ALP and ALT compared to ADR was significantly reduced (p < 0.001). MDA level in the ADR group significantly increased compared to control (p < 0.01). The MDA level in ZM + ADR (p < 0.05) and CAR + ADR (p < 0.01) groups were significantly reduced compared to that of ADR. Thiol levels in ZM + ADR group significantly increased compared to the ADR group (p < 0.05). The activities of CAT in the ADR group was significantly reduced compared to control (p < 0.05) and increased in treatment groups in comparison with the ADR (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Long-term administration of ZM extract and CAR could reduce the oxidative damage in the rat liver induced by ADR through the strengthening of the antioxidant system.