Protective effect of silymarin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic dyslipidaemia in rats

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of silymarin, a flavonoid, on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic dyslipidaemia in rats. Experimental diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg). Silymarin (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) was orally administered to diabetic rats for a period of 15 days. Blood glucose levels, serum lipid profile and liver glycogen levels were estimated following the established procedures. Biochemical observations were supplemented with histological examination of liver sections. Oral administration of silymarin to diabetic rats significantly (P < 0.001) decreased the blood glucose levels (259.99 ± 23.64 vs. 99.90 ± 2.62 [25 mg] & 89.17 ± 3.32 [50 mg]). The most interesting finding was the significant (p < 0.001) increase in HDL-cholesterol levels (26.99 ± 0.61 vs. 40.55 ± 0.52 [25 mg] & 41.12 ± 0.37 [50 mg]) whereas, there was a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol (TCh), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol levels observed in silymarin treated diabetic rats. STZ treatment caused significant degeneration of liver parenchyma, which was normalized to near normal morphology by administration of silymarin. The findings indicate that silymarin effectively improved the overall lipid profile and restored the glycogen stores in the liver of STZ-induced diabetic rats, in a dose dependent manner. The results indicate existence of abnormalities in lipid metabolism in STZ-induced diabetic rats and suggest a protective effect of silymarin in this animal model.

Silymarin from Milk Thistle Fruits Counteracts Selected Pathological Changes in the Lenses of Type 1 Diabetic Rats

“…In the diabetic rats in our study, similar to other studies conducted on type 1 diabetic rats [ 64 , 65 ], an alteration in the lipid profile was observed. As expected, silymarin, being a hepatoprotective drug, improved the distorted lipid profile, which is consistent with other studies conducted in rats with type 1 diabetes [ 66 , 67 , 68 ], type 2 diabetes [ 69 ], and even with clinical trials with diabetic patients [ 70 , 71 , 72 ].…”

Effect of thymoquinone on high fat diet and STZ‐induced experimental type 2 diabetes: A mechanistic insight by in vivo and in silico studies

“…Hyperlipidemia is very often associated with type 2 diabetic patients, where it increases the likelihood of atherosclerosis. Abnormal lipid profile parameters have been reported by earlier research studies and supported by our previous research (Anwer et al., 2019; Sharma et al., 2010). Similarly, we observed significant abnormalities in lipid metabolism in HFD and STZ‐treated T2DC groups, which witnessed increased TG, TCh, LDL‐C, VLDL‐C accompanied by reduction in HDL‐C levels.…”