Glowing turnip roots protect a healthy liver, symbolizing natural healing.

Turnip Power: Can This Root Veggie Protect Your Liver?

Lena Kashyap in Health & Wellness June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how extracts from the humble turnip could offer a natural defense against liver damage in diabetes, according to groundbreaking research."

Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder affecting millions worldwide, poses significant risks to various organs, with the liver being particularly vulnerable. Liver complications arising from diabetes can lead to severe health issues, highlighting the urgent need for effective preventative strategies.

Recent studies have begun to explore natural remedies to combat diabetes-related liver damage, focusing on readily available plant extracts with antioxidant and glucose-regulating properties. Turnip root extract (TREE), derived from Brassica rapa L., has emerged as a promising candidate due to its rich composition of beneficial compounds.

A new study investigates the protective effects of turnip root extract on early hepatic injury in rats induced with diabetes. This research aims to provide scientific evidence supporting the potential use of TREE as a natural intervention to mitigate liver damage associated with diabetes.

How Does Turnip Root Extract (TREE) Shield the Liver?

Glowing turnip roots protect a healthy liver, symbolizing natural healing.

The study, published in the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, details an experiment involving eighty male Wistar rats divided into four groups: a normal healthy group, a group receiving normal diet plus TREE, a diabetic group, and a diabetic group treated with TREE. Diabetes was induced using alloxan, a chemical compound known to cause diabetes in animal models.

For eight weeks, the TREE treatment groups received a daily dose of 200 mg/kg of turnip root extract via gavage. At the end of the experimental period, researchers assessed several key indicators of liver health, including:

Liver Function Markers: Levels of aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).
Total Bilirubin, Albumin, and Total Protein: These were measured in the serum to assess overall liver function and health.
Antioxidant Activity: Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GR) were evaluated in liver homogenates.
Lipid Peroxidation: Measured by the product of lipid peroxidation (MDA) to determine the extent of oxidative damage.

The findings indicated that TREE significantly reduced the levels of serum biomarkers indicative of hepatic injury in the diabetic rats. Furthermore, TREE decreased lipid peroxidation and elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes, suggesting a protective effect against oxidative stress. Histopathological examinations supported these biochemical findings, showing that TREE alleviated early hepatic injuries.

The Future of Turnips in Diabetes Management

This research underscores the potential of turnip root extract as a supportive therapy for managing liver health in individuals with diabetes. While these findings are promising, further studies, including human clinical trials, are needed to fully understand the efficacy and safety of TREE. Incorporating turnips into a balanced diet may offer additional health benefits, but it is essential to consult with healthcare professionals for personalized advice on managing diabetes and liver health.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.5897/jmpr11.1220, Alternate LINK

Title: Brassica Rapa L. Extract Alleviate Early Hepatic Injury In Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Subject: Complementary and alternative medicine

Journal: Journal of Medicinal Plants Research

Publisher: Academic Journals

Authors: Mohajeri Daryoush

Published: 2011-12-23

Everything You Need To Know

How does Turnip Root Extract (TREE) help the liver?

The research indicates that Turnip Root Extract (TREE) can protect the liver from early damage associated with Diabetes mellitus. This protection is significant because Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that can lead to severe liver complications. The implications are that TREE could potentially serve as a natural intervention to mitigate liver damage.

Why is the research on Turnip Root Extract (TREE) significant?

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder affecting millions worldwide, where the liver is particularly vulnerable. Liver complications stemming from Diabetes mellitus can lead to serious health issues. Therefore, the research explores natural remedies to combat diabetes-related liver damage, specifically focusing on Turnip Root Extract (TREE) due to its rich composition of beneficial compounds.

What was the study design used to test the effects of Turnip Root Extract (TREE)?

The study used eighty male Wistar rats divided into four groups: a normal healthy group, a group receiving normal diet plus TREE, a diabetic group, and a diabetic group treated with TREE. Diabetes was induced using alloxan. The TREE treatment groups received a daily dose of 200 mg/kg of Turnip Root Extract via gavage for eight weeks. This design allowed researchers to compare the effects of TREE on liver health in diabetic and non-diabetic rats.

What were the key findings of the study related to Turnip Root Extract (TREE)?

Researchers assessed several key indicators of liver health including Liver Function Markers (AST, ALT, and LDH), Total Bilirubin, Albumin, and Total Protein, Antioxidant Activity (SOD, CAT, GPX, and GR), and Lipid Peroxidation (MDA). The findings revealed that Turnip Root Extract (TREE) significantly reduced serum biomarkers of hepatic injury, decreased lipid peroxidation, and elevated antioxidant enzyme levels in the diabetic rats. These results point to a protective effect against oxidative stress and support the use of TREE in managing liver health in individuals with diabetes.

What are the next steps following the research on Turnip Root Extract (TREE)?

While the findings are promising, further studies, including human clinical trials, are needed to fully understand the efficacy and safety of Turnip Root Extract (TREE). Incorporating turnips into a balanced diet may offer additional health benefits. It's essential to consult with healthcare professionals for personalized advice on managing diabetes and liver health. The potential of TREE as a supportive therapy for managing liver health in individuals with diabetes is underscored by this research.