A novel herbal treatment reduces liver damage and increases RRAR-gamma in the liver of type 2 diabetic rats

作者:Luo, Chun; Liu, Bingyang; Yuan, Yanyan; Zhao, Ming; Zou, Xinrong; Ma, Lili; Xi, Yang; Wang, Fuyan; Bu, Shizhong*
来源:International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 2017, 10(3): 4426-4434.

摘要

We investigated the anti-hyperlipidemia and antioxidant effects of the Radix puerariae and hawthorn fruit in type 2 diabetic rats induced by a high-fat diet followed streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Our results showed that the combination significantly reversed the changes induced by hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. The combination decreased sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and increased insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). Moreover, the combination markedly upregulated protein levels of nuclear factor-like 2 (NRF-2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (RRAR-gamma) in the liver of diabetic rats. Collectively, our findings suggest that the combination can protect the liver from steatosis in a diabetic rat model by enhancing anti-hyperlipidemia and antioxidant activity. This study indicates a potential therapeutic importance of the combination for reducing liver damage in type 2 diabetes.