Abstract
The study aimed at evaluating liver antioxidant status in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wistar rats following
treatment with aqueous Taraxacum officinale leaf extract. The rats were divided into six groups of 6 rats each: Normal control,
Diabetic control, Non-diabetic rats + 100 mg/kgbw extract, Non-diabetic rats + 200 mg/kgbw extract, Diabetic rats + 100
mg/kgbw extract and Diabetic rats + 200 mg/kg-bw extract. After the treatment period, the animals were sacrificed and the liver
was collected, homogenized for biochemical analyses. Biochemical assays such as the levels of nitrite, lipid peroxidation product
(LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH) and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD and glutathione
peroxidase, GPx) as well as Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) were determined using established techniques. Lipid
peroxidation and nitrite level decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in diabetic rats treated with 100 mg/kgbw and 200 mg/kgbw
Taraxacum officinale extracts as compared to the untreated diabetic control. There was no significant difference in FRAP value
in diabetic groups treated with 100mg/kgbw and 200mg/kgbw when compared with the diabetic control. Reduced GSH
concentration as well as SOD activity increased significantly in diabetic groups treated with 100 mg/kgbw and 200 mg/kgbw
Taraxacum officinale extracts as compared to the untreated diabetic control while GPx activity decreased significantly in the
treated diabetic rats. The results indicate that Taraxacum officinale leaf extract could enhance liver anitioxidant status, hence,
suggest its usefulness in ameliorating diabetic-induced liver injury.
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