title: Hepatics alterations and genotoxic effects of Croton cajucara Benth (SACACA) in diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Croton cajucara Benth is a plant found in Amazonia, Brazil and the bark and leaf infusions of this plant have been popularly used to treat diabetes and hepatic disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated effects hepatics alterations and genotoxic and antidiabetic effect of Croton cajucara Benth bark extracts treatment in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: control rats; control rats treated with Croton cajucara Benth extract during 5 and 20 days; diabetic rats, and diabetic rats treated with Croton cajucara Benth during 5 and 20 days. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (70 mg/kg). Eight weeks later we measured glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and hepatic transaminases on blood. The bone marrow micronucleus assay was used to assess the genotoxic activity of Croton cajucara Benth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with aqueous extrat of Croton cajucara was able to significantly reduce levels of triglycerides in diabetic animals, however, did not modify significantly the levels of glucose and cholesterol in these animals. There was no significant elevation in liver transaminases in the control group treated with Croton cajucara Benth, as there was no genotoxic effect of treatment in this model. Our results did not show a significant effect on glucose and cholesterol reduction, the treatment was able to significantly reduce triclycerides plasmatic level. There was no significant alterations on hepatic transferase in the animals from the control group treated with Croton cajucara Benth. It was observed no genotoxic effect of the treatment in the model studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study Croton cajucara bark extract showed absence of hepatotoxicity in this animal model and presented a hypolipidemic activity, and could be used to reverse dyslipidemia associated with diabetes and to prevent the cardiovascular complications that are very prevalent in diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Eder
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marcolin
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bona
authors.forename: Marilene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porawski
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Norma Possa
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Marroni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D029802:Croton / Q000633:toxicity*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol