The Protective Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Rosa canina (Dog Rose) Fruit on Liver Function and Structure in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Rats

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of Rosa canina (R. canina) extract on streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetes in rats by measuring the fasting blood glucose (FBG), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and liver enzyme activity, including serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups and treated daily for 42 days as follows: group I (control) received saline as a vehicle; group II (diabetic) received saline; groups III and IV (diabetic) treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (BW) per day R. canina extract, respectively. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg BW). At the end of the study, blood samples were collected via heart puncture and sera were used for estimation of the mentioned parameters. Then all the rats were sacrificed and their livers used for histopathological evaluations. In the untreated diabetic group, the results showed a significant increase in FBG, ALT, and AST levels compared to the other groups (p < .05). The level of TAC decreased in this group, but not significantly compared to the other groups (p > .05). In the treated groups, administration of R. canina extract significantly improved the mentioned parameters in a dose-dependent manner (p < .05). Histological evaluations indicated that R. canina extract ameliorated defective liver caused by STZ. It can be concluded that R. canina extract has a hepatoprotective effect in STZ-induced diabetes in rats.

KEYWORDS:

• diabetes mellitus
• hepatoprotective
• Rosa canina
• streptozotocin

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Barij Research Institute for providing laboratory space and equipment for the research.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Funding

This study was supported by Vice Chancellor of Research, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran (NO: 9144).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mohsen Taghizadeh

Mohsen Taghizadeh, Ph.D in nutrition. Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences Kashan, I.R. Iran, interest area: diabetes and obesity.

Ali Akbar Rashidi

Ali Akbar Rashidi, M.Sc in nutrition. Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran. interest area: diabetes and medicinal plants.

Ali Akbar Taherian

Ali Akbar Taherian, Ph.D., Zarichehr Vakili, Ph.D in pathology. Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R. Iran. Interest area: cell pathology in diabetes.

Mehdi Mehran

Mehdi Mehran, M.Sc in chemistry. Phytochemistry Group, Barij Medicinal Plants Research Center, Kashan, I.R. Iran. Interest area: medicinal plants and diabetes.