Liver Function Parameters of Diabetic Rats Co-administered with Metformin and Aqueous Leaf Extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum
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Date
2021-07-31
Journal Title
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Publisher
Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology
Abstract
The co-administration of antidiabetic herbs with conventional medicines raises safety concerns
due to the complex interactions of multiple bioactive components. This study aimed to assess the
impact of co-administering metformin and the aqueous leaf extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum
(BPP) on liver function indices of diabetic rats. Forty Wistar rats were divided into five groups
of 8 animals each namely; C (Control, distilled water only), DC (Diabetic untreated), Met (120
mg/kg body weight Metformin only), BPP (400 mg.kg b.wt. BPP only), BPP + Met (400 mg/kg
b. wt. BPP and 120 mg.kg b.wt. Metformin). Rats were treated for 28 days, sacrificed 24 hours
after and their liver and blood collected for the analysis of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein, albumin, globulin, and
total bilirubin. The results revealed a significant increase in total protein and globulin
concentrations in the BPP and BPP + Met groups compared to the control (C) group. Conversely, albumin concentration decreased significantly in the diabetic untreated (DC), Metformin (Met), BPP, and BPP + Met groups. Total bilirubin concentration significantly reduced in the BPP +
Met group compared to C, DC, and BPP. ALP activity increased significantly in Met, BPP, and
BPP + Met groups compared to C, while liver ALP activity showed no significant change. Both
serum and liver ALT activities decreased significantly in the experimental groups compared to C. Serum AST activity decreased significantly in Met and BPP + Met groups, while liver AST
activity showed significant alterations only in the BPP group. In conclusion, the coadministration
of metformin and BPP in diabetic rats did not reverse or improve diabetic-induced liver function
indices alterations, suggesting caution in their concurrent use in diabetic condition
Description
Keywords
Aminotransferase, Albumin/globulin ratio, Herb, Bryphyllum pinnatum, Liver