Prevention of early liver injury by breviscapine in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of breviscapine extracted from the Chinese herb Erigeron breviscapus on liver injury in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin. Treatment with breviscapine significantly reduced liver weight, liver lipid level, fatty liver and liver fibrosis score in diabetic rats. Treatment with breviscapine also significantly decreased lipid peroxidation malondiadehyde levels and increased the activities of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in diabetic liver. Immunohistochemical observations revealed that macrophage (ED-1-positive cells) infiltration in diabetic liver was inhibited by treatment with breviscapine. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 in diabetic liver was lowered by breviscapine treatment. In conclusion, our results indicate that breviscapine has potential as a treatment for diabetic liver injury through attenuating liver lipid accumulation and oxidative stress.