Oxidative stress markers in liver in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats: effects of metformin and sitagliptin

Purpose: This study aims at investigating the oxidative stress effect of antidiabetic drugs of Metformin (MET) and sitagliptin (STG) in the liver tissue of diabetic rats from streptozotocin (STZ). Materials and Methods: Thirty-five female Wistar rats (3-4 months old, weighing 200 +/- 25 g) were divided into five groups (with seven rats each) and treated as follows: control (Cont), streptozotocin alone (STZ), streptozotocin + metformin (STZ+MET), streptozotocin + sitagliptin (STZ+STG), streptozotocin + metformin + sitagliptin (STZ+MET+STG). Sitagliptin, Metformin, and combined metformin sitagliptin treated subgroups for four weeks. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) levels, and oxidative stress index (OSI) ratio were measured in rat liver tissue. Besides, cells undergoing apoptotic cell death were determined using the TUNEL technique through histopathological evaluation. Results: MDA, TAS, and OSI of STZ+MET+STG administered group decreased compared to STZ. TOS of STZ+MET+STG administered group decreased compared to STZ. Conclusion: In the experimental T2D model in rats, it shows protective effect when sitagliptin is used with metformin against oxidative damage in liver tissue caused by STZ.