This study was aimed to determine the effect of polysaccharide from guava fruit on paracetamol (PCM)-induced liver injury. Aqueous extract of Psidium guajava fruit was treated with 95% ethanol to collect the water soluble polysaccharide precipitates. Thirty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into control (C), PPG400, PCM, PPG200+PCM and PPG400+PCM. The control and PCM groups received 0.9% normal saline orally while the rest were given 200 and 400 mg/kg of freeze-dried polysaccharide (PPG) per oral for fourteen days. At day 15, the animals were orally received PCM (2 g/kg) except the control and PPG400 groups which received 5% dimethyl sulfoxide. At day 16, the blood was collected to determine serum liver enzymes such as transaminases (AST and ALT). The liver tissue was harvested for determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL6), microscopic changes and glycogen content. The PCM group showed significant higher level of AST, ALT, TNF-α and IL6 than those of group C. The PCM group showed glycogen depletion, vacuolisation, loss of cell membrane, inflammatory cells infiltration and distorted hepatocelluar cords and narrow sinusoidal spaces. However, those PCM-induced alterations were attenuated by the PPG supplementation. Therefore, the polysaccharide of Psidium guajava possesses hepatoprotective activity and can be used as a dietary supplementation for protection of liver.
Piper sarmentosum has been shown to possess antihyperglycemic effect. The effect of water extract of PS leaves was determined on the diabetic complications in streptozotocin induced rats. Eighteen male Sprague Dawley rats (n=18) were randomly divided into three groups with six rats each, namely, control, diabetic untreated and PS treated diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced with intramuscular injection of STZ (50 mg/kg). Ten days following the induction, the diabetes was confirmed with fasting blood sugar level more than 8 mmol/L and PS extract was administered orally (0.125 g/kg) for 28 days. The left kidneys were collected to analyze. The body weight and kidney weight index showed significant differences between control and diabetic groups (p<0.05). However, the lesser extent of body weight gain was observed in diabetic group compared with the control groups. The fasting blood sugar level was reduced in PS treated group. The percent area occupied by the glomerulus over a renal corpuscle was found to be 74.5% in DPS, 72% in DNT and 75% in C group; however it was statistically insignificant. Histological study revealed marked inflammatory cells infiltration and glomeruli contraction with widened urinary spaces revealed in DNT group following 28 days of hyperglycemic state whereas the DPS group showed features of improvement. The water extract of PS leaves has the potential preventive effect on the diabetic nephropathy by reducing hyperglycemia.