The Potential Hepatoprotective Effect of Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. Fruit Extract in Diabetic Rat

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Objective: Vaccinium arctostaphylos has traditionally been employed in Iranian folk medicine to treat diabetes.
However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its antidiabetic properties remain incompletely understood.
The current experiment intended to explore the modulatory effects of V. arctostaphylos fruit ethanolic extract (VAE) on
biochemical and molecular events in the livers of diabetic rats.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: normal
control, normal rats with VAE treatment, diabetic control, and diabetic rats with VAE treatment. Following 42 days
of treatment, the impact of VAE on diabetes-induced rats was assessed by measuring various serum biochemical
parameters, including insulin, free fatty acids (FFA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), reactive oxygen species
(ROS), and adiponectin levels. The activities of hepatic carbohydrate metabolic enzymes and glycogen content were
determined. Additionally, expression levels of selected genes implicated in carbohydrate/lipid metabolism and miR-27b
expression were evaluated. H&E-stained liver sections were prepared for light microscopy examination.
Results: Treatment with VAE elevated levels of insulin and adiponectin that reduced levels of FFA, ROS, and TNF-α in
the serum of diabetic rats. VAE-treated rats exhibited increased activities of hepatic glucokinase (GK), glucose-6-phosphate
dehydrogenase (G6PD), and glycogen concentrations, in conjunction with decreased activities of glucose-6-phosphatase
(G6Pase) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase). Furthermore, VAE significantly upregulated the transcription levels of
hepatic insulin receptor substrate 1 (Irs1) and glucose transporter 2 (Glut2), while considerably downregulated the expression
of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (Srebp1c).
VAE remarkably enhanced the expression of miR27-b in the hepatic tissues of diabetic rats. Abnormal histological signs were
dramatically normalized in diabetic rats receiving VAE compared to those in the diabetic control group.
Conclusion: Our findings underscore the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of V. arctostaphylos and assist in
better comprehension of its antidiabetic properties.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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