Centaurium erythraea methanol extract improves the functionality of diabetic liver and kidney by mitigating hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress

The use of medicinal herbs can mitigate oxidative stress-induced diabetic complications and organ failure. This study investigated hepato-and reno-protective effects of methanol extract of Centaurium erythraea Rafn (CEE) in STZ-diabetic rats pre-treated (2 weeks) and/or post-treated (4 weeks) with CEE (orally, 100 mg/kg/day). Both CEE treatments markedly improved liver and kidney functionality in diabetic rats observed as reduced aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities and decreased creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. CEE pre-treatment reduced the level of glycosylated proteins in diabetic liver more efficiently than post-treatment. Lowered levels of lipid peroxidation, DNA damage and protein glutathionylation, elevated ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione, and mitigated disturbance of antioxidant enzyme activities reflected the antioxidant effect of CEE in diabetic liver and kidney. Although CEE pre-treatment was more effective, the obtained results indicate that both treatments protect the liver and kidney from oxidative damage by boosting the endogenous antioxidant defense system.