Glycemic Control and Therapeutic Effect of Nigella sativa and Curcuma longa on Rats with Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Hepatopathy

摘要

This study investigated the possible antidiabetic role and therapeutic crucial action of two medicinal plants namely Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) rhizome and Nigella sativa L. (Ranunculaceae) seeds compared to the currently available antidiabetic drug gliclazide (diamicron) against diabetic complication induced liver injury in rats. Experimental diabetes was induced by a single-dose (40 mg kg~-1, intraperitoneally, i.p.) streptozotocin (STZ)-injection and the two studied plants were administered orally (300 mg kg~-1 b.wt. either each alone or in their synergistic combination) for 30 days commenced 2 weeks after induction of diabetes. The following parameters were measured: blood glucose (marker of hyperglycemia), blood fructosamine, hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin (indices of diabetic protein glycation), hepatic glycolytic enzymes, hexokinase (HK), pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehdrogenase (LDH) as well as hepatic gluconeogenic enzyme, phophoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) (to assess the mechanism (s) of hypoglycemic action of the used plants), hepatic oxidative stress markers, Nitric Oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA, marker of lipid peroxidation), hepatic antioxidant markers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Blood alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were also measured as markers of liver function. The results revealed that induction of