Original Scientific Article
Comparative effects of wild Hyperici herba and Hypericum perforatum L. Hairy root extracts on renal carbohydrate metabolism and oxidative stress in stz-induced diabetic rats
Elena Rafailovska * ,
Cvetanka Trifunovska ,
Elena Mirova ,
Oliver Tushevski ,
Sonja Gadzovska-Simic ,
Suzana Dinevska-Kjovkarovska ,
Biljana Miova

Mac Vet Rev 2026; 49 (2): i - x

10.2478/macvetrev-2026-0018

Received: 22 August 2025

Received in revised form: 13 February 2026

Accepted: 09 April 2026

Available Online First: 11 June 2026

Published on: 15 October 2026

Correspondence: Elena Rafailovska, elena.rafailovska@live.com
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Abstract

Chronic hyperglycemia-induced imbalances in renal carbohydrate metabolism and oxidative stress contribute to diabetic kidney complications, highlighting the urgent need for therapies targeting both pathways. This study evaluates nephroprotective effects of Hypericum perforatum L. extracts-wild Hyperici herba (HH) and hairy root (HR)-in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Male Wistar rats received single intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection (45 mg/kg body weight) with diabetes confirmed by fasting blood glucose >15 mmol/L. Diabetic rats were treated with daily oral doses of HH or HR extracts for 14 consecutive days. Renal carbohydrate metabolism was assessed through glycogen content, glucose levels, glucose-6-phosphate content, glucose-6-phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities. Oxidative stress markers evaluated included catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase activities, total glutathione levels, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Diabetes induced 1.56-fold renal glucose increase, 1.7-fold glycogen accumulation, 47.5% higher glucose-6-phosphatase activity, 39.4% lower glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, 44% catalase reduction, and elevated MDA levels. Both extracts significantly improved these parameters; HH reduced glucose-6-phosphatase by 33.1%, restored dehydrogenase by 61.5%; HR showed superior effects (37.5% and 67.3% respectively) plus normalized glycogen and enhanced catalase above controls. Glibenclamide had limited effects. Xanthone-enriched HR extract demonstrated superior nephroprotection versus HH and glibenclamide through comprehensive restoration of carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidant defenses in diabetic nephropathy.

Keywords: xanthones, experimental diabetes, antioxidant defense, carbohydrate metabolism, kidney

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©2026 Rafailovska E.This is an open-access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared that they have no financial or non-financial conflict of interest regarding authorship and publication of this article.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 49, Issue 2, Pages i-x, e-ISSN 1857-7415, p-ISSN 1409-7621, DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2026-0018

The all content of the Macedonian Veterinary Review, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.