title: Hepatoprotective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Allium hirtifolium (Persian shallot) in diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is dramatically increasing worldwide. Prospective studies have reported that high levels of hepatic enzymes, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) are associated with later development of diabetes. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Allium hirtifolium (Persian shallot) on the level of liver enzymes in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two male rats were divided into four groups of eight. The diabetic groups received 100 and 300 mg/kg Persian shallot extract, the diabetic control and non-diabetic control groups received 0.9% saline for 30 days. At the end of the experimental period, fasting blood samples were collected, and enzymes levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings showed that hydroalcoholic extract of Persian shallot can significantly decrease serum levels of liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and LDH) in treated groups in a dose-dependent fashion (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antioxidant micronutrients in the extract of Persian shallot may rehabilitate liver damages caused by free radicals in diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hosseini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Javad
authors.forename: Hosseini-Zijoud
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Seyed-Mostafa
authors.forename: Oubari
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Farhad
authors.forename: Mahmoodi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehdi
authors.forename: Abbasi Oshaghi
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ebrahim
authors.forename: Rajabi Gilan
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Nader
authors.forename: Ghasemi Seyed
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ramin
authors.forename: Hashemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Behrooz
mesh_terms: D000490:Allium / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts