Amelioration of Diabetes and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Pistachio Kernel Protein Hydrolysate in Rats

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) are prevalent conditions that affect the metabolism and can lead to liver injury. They are often associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Protein Hydrolysate of Pistachio Kernel (PHPK) is a natural product obtained from pistachio proteins by enzymatic hydrolysis. It has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties. We investigated the hepatoprotective effects of PHPK in rats with type 1 DM or NAFLD induced by a high-sugar diet. We used 96 male Wistar rats and divided them into four groups: Control, NAFLD, Diabetic, and PHPK-treated (5, 50, 500 mg/kg). We fed the rats with different diets for 8 weeks and then administered PHPK orally for 4 weeks. We collected blood and liver samples for biochemical and histopathological analysis. We found that DM and NAFLD increased the levels of liver enzymes, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood and caused hepatic damage, as shown by distorted liver architecture, necrotic hepatocytes, sinusoidal dilatation, and kupffer cell proliferation. PHPK administration reduced the severity of these alterations and improved the liver function and morphology in rats with DM and NAFLD. Our results suggest that PHPK has beneficial effects on DM and NAFLD, indicating its potential as a natural remedy for these disorders. Future research is needed to identify the specific compound(s) responsible for its antidiabetic effects and to elucidate its mechanism of action.