Protective effect of carvacrol on liver injury in type 2 diabetic db/db mice

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of carvacrol on liver injury in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to assess its potential molecular mechanism. Mice were divided into three groups (n=15/group): Non-diabetic db/m+ mice group, db/db mice group and db/db mice + carvacrol group. In the db/db mice + carvacrol group, db/db mice were administered 10 mg/kg carvacrol daily by gavage for 6 weeks. Fasting blood glucose and insulin levels were separately examined. Pathological changes were observed using hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, periodic acid Schiff and reticular fiber staining. In addition, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and western blotting were used to examine the expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), NF-κB, NALP3, AKT1, phosphorylated (p)-AKT1, insulin receptor (INSR), p-INSR, mTOR, p-mTOR, insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and p-IRS1 in the liver tissues. The results revealed that carvacrol improved blood glucose and insulin resistance of T2DM db/db mice. After treatment with carvacrol for 6 weeks, the serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were markedly reduced, whereas HDL-C levels were significantly increased in db/db mice. Furthermore, carvacrol administration significantly decreased serum ALT and AST levels in db/db mice. Serum BUN, Cre and UA levels were markedly higher in db/db mice compared with those in the control group; however, carvacrol treatment markedly reduced their serum levels in db/db mice. Furthermore, histological examinations confirmed that carvacrol could protect the liver of db/db mice. Carvacrol could ameliorate liver injury induced by T2DM via mediating insulin, TLR4/NF-κB and AKT1/mTOR signaling pathways. The present findings suggested that carvacrol exerted protective effects on the liver in T2DM db/db mice, which could be related to insulin, TLR4/NF-κB and AKT1/mTOR signaling pathways.

Isolation and identification of an α-glucosidase inhibitory peptide from extruded soybean protein and its hypoglycemic activity in T2DM mice

“…When hepatocytes are damaged, considerable amounts of AST and ALT are released into the blood. 41 In this study, the liver sections of the T2DM mice showed obvious liver injury, with structural hepatocyte changes, disorganized arrangement, and a large number of degenerative fatty vacuoles. The ALT and AST levels increased significantly ( p < 0.05), possibly due to high-fat diet-induced liver injury and elevated enzyme activity.…”

p-Synephrine ameliorates alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus through inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation via suppressing the NF-kappa B and MAPK pathways

“…The supernatant was harvested as serum and stored at −80 °C for further studies. 22 Afterwards, the pancreas, kidneys, spleen, liver and interscapular brown adipose tissues were isolated and weighed immediately. The organ indexes of these isolated organs were calculated as described in eqn (5):Organ indexes = organ weight (g)/body weight (kg).…”

Use of Monoterpenes as Potential Therapeutics in Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Review

“…Carvacrol Diabetic C57BL/KsJ-db/db male mice-10 mg/kg Carvacrol improved blood glucose and insulin resistance of T2DM db/db mice [62] Te serum levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C were markedly reduced, whereas HDL-C levels were signifcantly increased Decreased serum ALT and AST levels Protective efects on the liver in T2DM db/db mice, which could be related to insulin, TLR 4/NF-κB, and AKT1/mTOR signaling pathways Carvone STZ-induced diabetic rats-50 mg•kg −1 Decline in the levels of plasma glucose, HbA1c, and signifcant improvement in the levels of Hb and insulin. Te reversed activities of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes, enzymic antioxidants, and hepatic marker enzymes in diabetic rats were restored to near normal level by the administration of carvone.…”