The effects of ethanol extract of Berberis vulgaris fruit on histopathological changes and biochemical markers of the liver damage in diabetic rats

Abstract

<strong><em>Objective(s)</em></strong>: Various studies have shown that the diabetes is associated with liver failure. The objective of this study was determining the effects of <em>Berberis vulgaris</em> fruit on histopathological and biochemical markers of liver in diabetic rats.<br /> <strong><em>Materials and Methods: </em></strong>In this experimental study, 60 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g with free access to water and <em>ad libitum</em> were randomly divided to five twelve-membered groups including healthy control (group 1), diabetic control (group 2, this two groups received distilled water), treated diabetic positive control (group 3) using dose 150 mg/kg/day metformin, and two groups treated with doses 200 (group 4) and 600 (group 5) mg/kg/BW of <em>B. vulgaris</em> extracts via gavage feeding for 8 weeks. Diabetes mellitus was experimentally induced by one dose injection of alloxan 120 mg/kg. This pre-clinical study was performed on 120 mg/kg alloxan induced diabetic rats.<br /> <strong><em>Results:</em></strong> The hepatic steatosis status, liver cholestasis and fibrosis were not changed in group 4 and 5. Glycogen deposition changed mildly and polymorphonuclear neutrophils infiltration changed moderately at group 5. Liver hepatitis changed mildly and severely at group 3 as well as group 5, respectively. Glucose, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase were lower in high dose group compared to other groups.<br /> <strong><em>Conclusion:</em></strong> Results suggested that <em>B. vulgaris</em> extract can decrease liver damage by influencing hepatic histopathological and biochemical markers in diabetic rats.