Amelioration of hepatic dysfunction in diabetic rats by a combination of naringin and zinc treatment

Abas, Al-Shimaa M.; Sherif, Mohamed H.; Ibrahim, Sarah

doi:10.21608/blj.2025.356994.1069

Amelioration of hepatic dysfunction in diabetic rats by a combination of naringin and zinc treatment

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Egypt

² Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University

³ Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University

10.21608/blj.2025.356994.1069

Abstract

Background and Aim: Natural compounds can effectively lower blood glucose levels and mitigate the long-term effects of diabetes, providing safe and efficient treatment solutions for this illness. This research aimed to examine the impact of naringin (NR), zinc (Zn), and the combined treatment of naringin and zinc on hepatic tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Methods: Male albino rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg) intraperitoneally fifteen minutes after receiving nicotinamide (NA) (120 mg/kg) to induce T2DM. For diabetic complications, rats were kept for three weeks following diabetes induction. For the next eight weeks, the rats received treatments daily.
Results: Naringin and Zinc combined treatment exhibited significant improvement in liver function tests. Furthermore, it showed a potent effect on levels of malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity in diabetic rats’ liver tissues. Additionally, it significantly reduced inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, and ameliorated hepatic asprosin and P-selectin levels. Furthermore, it significantly reduced nuclear factor- kappa B (NF-κB), while enhancing nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor- 2 (Nrf-2), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR γ) expression in hepatic tissues when compared to the diabetic control rats. A histological study of the hepatic tissues validated our findings.
Conclusion: The combination therapy of naringin and zinc significantly mitigated oxidative stress, enhanced total antioxidant capacity, reduced inflammation, and modulated P-selectin levels. Additionally, it significantly reduced NF-κB expression while enhancing Nrf-2 and PPAR γ expression and mitigated degenerative changes in hepatic tissues compared to either naringin or zinc treatment alone.

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