Evolution of protective effects of purslane on metformin induced hepatotoxicity on healthy rats fed on a low-fat diet

Abstract

One of the most often recommended drugs for type 2 diabetes is metformin (MT). Generally, metformin is considered safe and effective. However, there are some risks when it is used with a low-fat diet (LFD). Consequently, several attempts were carried out to find alternative natural drugs with minimum side effects rather than chemical drugs. Thus the current study is aimed to evaluate the hepatotoxicity effects of metformin on low-fat diet rats and the ameliorative effects of purslane (PE) extract against metformin toxicity. To achieve this objective, 32 male albino rats were divided into four equal groups; (G1): control group, (G2): LFD+PE, (G3): LFD+MT, and (G4): LFD+ MT+PE. Oxidative stress markers (NO and TBARS), antioxidant enzyme (SOD) activity, and inflammation cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) were detected as well as histopathological investigation. Our results revealed that metformin raised NO and TBARS levels, inhibited SOD activity, increased TNF-α and IL-1β levels and induced several histopathological alternations. On the contrary, PE administration-induced rats modulate the toxic effects induced by MT.