The efficacy of goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) tincture and metformin combination in the early stages of alloxan-induced diabetes in rats

Abstract

The effects of goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) tincture (1 ml/kg intragastrically), metformin (100 mg/kg intraperitoneally) or their combination were studied in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. On the 4th day after alloxan injection, β-cells underwent destructive changes and death, the number of pancreatic islets was reduced, proliferation processes were intensified in the places of typical α-cells localization. The studied combination normalized the state of the islets counteracting cell death and limiting excessive proliferation foci (evidently α-cells), the last effect was not observed after monotherapy in both cases. The tincture and metformin normalized the histological structure of the liver counteracting hepatocytes death, which was intensified in diabetic rats. The protective effect of metformin on the structure of the vascular wall both in the pancreas and the liver was maintained after combined use of this drug with the tincture. This combination also partially restored insulinemia and insulin resistance index, while the effect on glycemia and TNF-α level in plasma was not manifested within the term of the study and under conditions of anaesthesia. The correlation between TNF-α and insulinemia indicates the possible participation of the mechanisms related to this cytokine in the tincture protective effect in regard to β-cells. Combined use of goutweed tincture with metformin allowed increasing plasma albumin level, which was not observed after monotherapy with metformin.