Comparative Regulatory Effects of Morus Alba Leaf Extracts on HepaticEnzymes in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Rats

Aim and objectives: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder with hyperglycemia due to defects in insulin secretion and function. Several studies investigated the both effects of traditional herbal medicine in diabetes treatment. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Morus Alba leaf Extracts (MAE) on hepatic enzyme activity in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Forty healthy adult male Wistar rats weighing 250 ± 10 gr were taken for this experiment. Rats were divided into 4 groups (10 rats in each group). Animals treated by a gavage tube for a period of two months as follow: group I: non diabetic control rats which only received distilled water; group II: non-diabetic rats that received (MAE) 1.0 g/kg per day; group III: diabetic control rats treated with distilled water and group IV: Diabetic rats which received MAE 1.0 g/kg per day. At the end of the 8th week, blood samples were collected and serum levels of enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and total bilirubin were measured in all study groups using commercial assay kits. The activity of two antioxidant enzymes including glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were also measured. Results: Findings of present study demonstrated that MAE significantly decreased serum levels of liver enzymes ALT, AST and ALP in diabetic rats in compare to the diabetic control groups while it increased GPX and GR activity(P<0.05). These results also indicated that MAE did not significantly affect LDH activity in diabetic rats treated with MAE in compared to the diabetic control groups. Conclusions: According to the present findings it could possibility be suggested that the anti-hyperglycemic effect of MAE is mediated at least partially by increasing liver GPX and GR activity as well as decrease serum levels of liver enzymes ALT, AST and ALP. These results are the other definite evidence supporting MA as traditional medicine for diabetic patients.