title: Anti-hepatotoxic activities of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. in animal model of streptozotocin diabetes-induced liver damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Flavonoid-rich aqueous fraction of methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx was evaluated for its anti-hepatotoxic activities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diabetes Mellitus was induced in Wistar rats by a single i.p injection of 80 mg/kg b.w. streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 6.3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ameliorative effects of the extract on STZ-diabetes induced liver damage was evident from the histopathological analysis and the biochemical parameters evaluated in the serum and liver homogenates. Reduced levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (3.76 ± 0.38 μM, 0.42 ± 0.04 U/L, 41.08 ± 3.04 U/ml, 0.82 ± 0.04 U/L respectively) in the liver of diabetic rats were restored to a near normal level in the Hibiscus sabdariffa-treated rats (6.87 ± 0.51 μM, 0.72 ± 0.06 U/L, 87.92 ± 5.26 U/ml, 1.37 ± 0.06 U/L respectively). Elevated levels of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the serum of diabetic rats were also restored in Hibiscus sabdariffa -treated rats. Examination of stained liver sections revealed hepatic fibrosis and excessive glycogen deposition in the diabetic rats. These pathological changes were ameliorated in the extract-treated rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anti-hepatotoxic activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract in STZ diabetic rats could be partly related to its antioxidant activity and the presence of flavonnoids.
authors: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. waledavade@yahoo.com.
authors: David O
authors: DO
authors: Adeyemi
authors: Victor O
authors: VO
authors: Ukwenya
authors: Efere M
authors: EM
authors: Obuotor
authors: Stephen O
authors: SO
authors: Adewole
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood; D031584:Hibiscus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents