Abstract

Pedicularis decora (P. decora) has been known to have antioxidative effect, but the effect of its successive extracts has not been well studied. Our objective was to investigate the effect of n-butanol and water extracts of P. decora Franch root on the oxidative stress and hepatic injury in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Diabetes was induced in ICR mice by a single alloxan injection (150 mg kg⁻¹ b. w., i.p.). After diabetes was induced, the mice were treated with n-butanol and water extracts of P. decora Franch root, α-tocopherol and saline for three weeks. Treatment with α-tocopherol, n-butanol and water extract of P. decora Franch root caused considerable gain in body and liver weight, glucose, liver glycogen and serum insulin concentration. The two extracts of P. decora Franch and α-tocopherol were found to show hepatoprotective effect by lowering down the contents of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cholesterol and triglyceride and elevating HDL cholesterol in serum in alloxan induced diabetic mice. Treatment with the two extracts of P. decora Franch and α-tocopherol significantly lowered oxidative stress biomarkers such as lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels in serum and in liver tissue, nitric oxide (NO) levels in serum and catalase (CAT) activities in liver tissue against alloxan treated mice. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and hepatic enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) as well as serum total antioxidant activity (TAA) were significantly increased by treatment with the two extracts and α-tocopherol, against alloxan treated mice. Based on these results, it was observed that α-tocopherol, n-butanol and water extract of P. decora Franch root administration could counteract alloxan induced the diabetic symbols and inhibit oxidative stress and hepatic injury. Additionally, n-butanol extract was more pronounced on the parameters studied of the oxidative stress and hepatic injury. The n-butanol extract is more protective than water extract suggests that n-butanol extract may better ameliorate the harmful effects in alloxan-induced mice.

Key words: Pedicularis decora Franch, n-butanol extract, water extract, hepatic injury, oxidative stress.