Umbelliferone (UMB), a natural
antioxidant, is benzopyrone in nature, and it is present in the fruits of golden apple and bitter orange. Earlier we evaluated and reported the effect of
Umbelliferone on
antidiabetic,
antioxidant and
antihyperlipidemic properties, and this study was designed to evaluate the effect of
Umbelliferone on membrane
fatty acid composition and histopathology of liver and kidney of control and
streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. Male albino Wistar rats (180-200 g) were made diabetic by an intraperitonial administration of STZ (40 mg/kg). The control and diabetic rats were treated with
Umbelliferone and
glibenclamide dissolved in 10%
dimethyl sulfoxide for 45 days. Diabetic rats had decreased
insulin and increased
glucose, and increased levels of
thiobarbituric acid reactive substances,
lipid hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes. The levels of palmitic, stearic and
oleic acids increased and the levels of linolenic and
arachidonic acids decreased in diabetic rats as compared with control rats. Thus, the
saturated fatty acids and
monounsaturated fatty acids increased and the
polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats had decreased liver weight and increased activities of
alanine transaminase and
aspartate transaminase; increased kidney weight and urine
albumin, and decreased levels of
urea,
uric acid and
creatinine in the urine. Histopathological studies of liver and kidney in diabetic rats showed fatty changes surrounding portal triad; enlargement of lining cells of tubules, fatty infiltration, large area of
hemorrhage and lymphocyte infiltration. Treatment with
Umbelliferone and
glibenclamide reversed these changes to near normalcy. Our results showed that
Umbelliferone has a protective effect on membrane
fatty acid composition of liver and kidney as supported by
antioxidant and
antihyperlipidemic effects of
Umbelliferone reported earlier as evidenced by improved histopathological changes, hepatic and nephritic markers, indicating recovery from the risk of
diabetic complications.