Hepato-renal protective effects of gallic acid and p-coumaric acid in nicotinamide/streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

The goal of diabetes treatment is primarily to save life and alleviate symptoms and secondary to prevent long-term diabetic complications resulting from hyperglycemia. Thus, our present investigation was designed to evaluate the hepato-renal protective effects of gallic acid and p-coumaric acid in nicotinamide/streptozotocin (NA/STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Experimental type 2 diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of STZ (65 mg/kg b.wt.), after 15 min of i.p. injection of NA (120 mg/kg b.wt.). Gallic acid and p-coumaric acid were orally administered to diabetic rats at a dose of 20, 40 mg/kg b.wt./day, respectively, for 6 weeks. Body weight, serum glucose, protein profile, liver function enzymes and kidney function indicators was assayed. Treatment with either gallic acid or p-coumaric acid significantly ameliorated the elevated levels of glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea and uric acid. Both compounds were also found to restore total protein, albumin, and globulin as well as body weight of diabetic rats to near normal values. It can conclude that both gallic acid and p-coumaric acid have potent hypoglycemic and hepato-renal protective effects in diabetic rats. Therefore, our results suggest promising hypoglycemic agents that can attenuate the progression of diabetic hepatopathy and nephropathy.