A novel herbal treatment reduces liver damage and increases RRAR-γ in the liver of type 2 diabetic rats

We investigated the anti-hyperlipidemia and antioxidant effects of the Radix puerariae and hawthorn fruit in type 2 diabetic rats induced by a high-fat diet followed streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Our results showed that the combination significantly reversed the changes induced by hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. The combination decreased sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and increased insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). Moreover, the combination markedly upregulated protein levels of nuclear factor-like 2 (NRF-2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (RRAR-γ) in the liver of diabetic rats. Collectively, our findings suggest that the combination can protect the liver from steatosis in a diabetic rat model by enhancing anti-hyperlipidemia and antioxidant activity. This study indicates a potential therapeutic importance of the combination for reducing liver damage in type 2 diabetes.