Leverage of Dapagliflozin and/or Curcumin on Liver Injury in Diabetes-Induced Male Albino Rats

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of dapagliflozin (DAPA), a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, and curcumin (CUR), a bioactive compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, on diabetic liver damage induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with various hepatic complications, and this research aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of DAPA and CUR, both individually and in combination, in mitigating these effects. Thirty-six male albino rats were divided into six groups: a negative control, a CUR-only group, a diabetic untreated group (positive control), and three diabetic groups treated with DAPA, CUR, or a combination of both. After 30 days, various parameters, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, HbA1c, homeostatic model assessment ‎of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), beta-cell function (HOMA-B), liver enzyme activities, lipid profiles, and histopathological changes, were assessed. Results showed that the diabetic group exhibited elevated FBG, insulin resistance, HbA1c, liver enzymes, triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC), along with reduced HOMA-B, HDL, and protein profiles. Histopathological analysis revealed severe liver damage, including congested portal veins, disorganized hepatocytes, fatty degeneration, and increased caspase-3 expression. Treatment with DAPA, CUR, or their combination significantly improved metabolic and hepatic parameters. The combination therapy showing the most promising results in reducing diabetic liver complications. In conclusion, the combination of DAPA and CUR demonstrated superior efficacy compared to monotherapy in alleviating diabetic liver damage, suggesting its potential as a polytherapy regimen for managing T2DM-related hepatic complications.