Abstract

Background: Avicennia marina (A. marina) has been traditionally used in the treatment of various diseases due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the effect of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of A. marina on apoptotic, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation indices and liver histology of type 1 diabetic rats. Methods: In this laboratory research, a total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups including the control group, type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) group, diabetic group receiving 50 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extract of A. marina, diabetic group receiving100 mg/kg of A. marina, and the diabetic group receiving 200 mg/kg of A. marina. The control and DM groups were intraperitoneally administered with 0.5 mL of saline solution as the solvent for 30 days. The experimental groups were intraperitoneally administered with 0.5 mL of hydroalcoholic extract at doses of 50,100, and 200 mg/kg for 30 days, respectively. Diabetes mellitus was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate. At the end of treatment, we measured the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNIF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and IL-6. Also, we assessed the levels of BCL2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), caspase-9, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (HOdG-8) using ELISA in liver tissues. Histological changes in the liver were also investigated. Results: The levels of Bcl-2, SOD, CAT, and GPx were significantly higher in the experimental groups receiving100 and 200 mg/kg of A. marina in a dose-dependent manner than in the DM group. The levels of Bax, caspase-9, MDA, and HOdG-8 were significantly lower in the experimental groups in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 were significantly lower in these groups in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). However, the differences were not significant in the experimental group receiving 50 mg/kg of A. marina (P > 0.05). The results showed that A. marina extract improved the histological changes in the liver of diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: The administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of A. marina can improve liver tissue damage and reduce diabetes-related liver complications by decreasing apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation.