Attenuation of diabetic hepatopathy in alloxan-induced diabetic mice by methanolic flower extract of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees

The present investigation is aimed to determine the effect of methanolic flower extract (MFE) of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus on hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Diabetic mice prepared with alloxan (150 mg/kg) body weight (bw) were treated with effective different doses (150-550 mg/kg bw) of MFE. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed. Activities of marker enzymes and lipid profile were determined. Similarly, superoxide dismutase (SOD) - cytosolic CuZn-SOD and mitochondrial Mn-SOD, catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities were examined. After treatment with MFE, 250 mg/kg bw dose was found to be effective in significantly reducing fasting blood glucose (FBG) level. In IPGTT, there was a significant reduction of FBG level in treated groups. The MFE also exhibited a significant hypolipidemic effect as evident from a decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (VLDL-C) and increased high-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (HDL-C) level. Activities of marker enzymes were significantly decreased in treated diabetic groups. However, the activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly increased in treated diabetic groups. The histopathological studies of the liver tissue in MFE treated diabetic mice revealed almost normal appearance. This study supports the traditional proclamations and use of flowers of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus for the management of diabetes.