Effects of ethanol extracts in licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) on activity of liver enzymes in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Fabaceae) is a well-known herb that it used in traditional medicine due to pharmacological activities. Licorice in herbal medicine is used as a tonic, expectorant and demulcent factor. This plant has antioxidant, immunostimulant, anti-allergenic and anti-ulcer activities. The aim of present study was to, comparisons of effect of ethanol extracts licorice root with glibenclamide on activity of liver enzymes in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
In the present study, oral administration of licorice extract (50, 200 and 400 mg/kg per body wt.) and glibenclamide (600 µg/kg) were performed as the standard antidiabetic medicine, during 30 days. Then, the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in normal and diabetic rats were evaluated. Data were analyzed by using SPSS-10 software and the ANOVA test was used.
Oral administrations of licorice extract significantly decreased activity of AST and ALT in serum of diabetic rats but not in normal rats. The licorice extract as same as glibenclamide significantly decreased activity of liver enzymes.
It is concluded that the licorice can be considered as a suitable candidate for future studies on diabetes mellitus.