Evaluating the potential impact of sodium–glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitor “canagliflozin” on the hepatic damage triggered by hypertension in rats

Abstract Hypertension (HTN) is a prevalent chronic disease. HTN and liver disease association is extensively noted. Thus, finding a medication that can alleviate HTN and its accompanying liver insult would be promising. This study investigated the potential impacts of canagliflozin “sodium–glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitor” on the liver of the N ω ‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME)‐induced HTN rat model. Twenty‐four adult male rats were divided into four groups; negative control group, canagliflozin group, L‐NAME group: 50 mg/kg of L‐NAME was injected daily for 5 weeks and L‐NAME + canagliflozin group: 1 week after L‐NAME injection both L‐NAME + canagliflozin (40 mg/kg) were given concomitantly daily for further 4 weeks. Liver functions, serum lipid profile, hepatic oxidative/nitrative stress biomarkers, gene expression of lipogenic enzymes, B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), and DNA fragmentation, were measured. Besides, hepatic histology and immunohistochemistry of nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were assessed. Canagliflozin improved hepatic lipogenesis via the downregulation of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and transcriptional regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) genes leading to an improved serum lipid profile. Further, canagliflozin modified the eNOS/inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pathway and decreased the NF‐κB immunoreactivity besides restoring the oxidants–antioxidants balance; increased reduced glutathione concomitant with declined malondialdehyde. This improvement of the liver was mirrored by the significant restoration of liver architecture and confirmed by the preserved liver DNA content and upregulation of the antiapoptotic Bcl2 mRNA level and attenuation of the alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase. In conclusion, canagliflozin is a promising anti‐hypertensive and hepatic‐supportive medication. Research Highlights Canagliflozin's antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐lipogenic, and antiapoptotic characteristics mitigate remote liver compromise caused by hypertension. Canagliflozin can be exploited as a hepatoprotective and antihypertensive medication.