J Food Biochem. 2019;e12949. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jfbc | 1 of 8 https://doi.org/10.1111/jfc.12949 © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Received: 4 December 2018 | Revised: 22 May 2019 | Accepted: 28 May 2019 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.12949 FULL ARTICLE Dietary supplementation of jute leaf ( Corchorus olitorius ) modulates hepatic delta‐aminolevulinic acid dehydratase ( δ‐ALAD) activity and oxidative status in high‐fat fed/low streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats Jamiyu Ayodeji Saliu 1,2,3 | Adedayo Oluwaseun Ademiluyi 2,3 | Aline Augusti Boligon 4 | Ganiyu Oboh 2 | Maria Rosa Chitolina Schetinger 3 | João Batista Teixeira Rocha 3 1 Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria 2 Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 3 Biological Sciences, Center for Natural Sciences and Exact, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil 4 Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil Correspondence Jamiyu Ayodeji Saliu, Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria. Email: saliujohn@yahoo.com, ademiluyidayo@yahoo.co.uk, jamiyu.saliu@ aaua.edu.ng Funding information Nigerian Universities Tertiary Education Trust Fund Abstract Impaired liver function is associated with decreased hepatic delta‐aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ‐ALAD) activity in diabetes mellitus. Hence, this study described the effect of dietary jute leaf (Corchorus olitorius) on hepatic δ‐ALAD activity in high‐fat fed combined with low‐dose streptozotocin administered diabetic rats. Animals were fed diets containing 35% fat for 14 days prior to a single administration of low‐dose (35 mg/kg body weight) streptozotocin to induce diabetes. Thereafter, the animals were randomly placed in groups and fed 100 mg/g jute leaf‐supplemented diets for 30 days. The result showed that jute leaf supplementation significantly ( p < 0.05) re‐ versed the decreased hepatic δ‐ALAD activity, increased hepatic catalase and SOD activity accompanying the decrease in serum AST and AST activities. This finding suggests that restoration of hepatic δ‐ALAD activity, modulation of hepatic function biomarkers, and increase in antioxidant status could be possible underlying events mediating the hepatoprotective effect of jute leaf in diabetic conditions. Practical applications Decrease in hepatic δ‐ALAD activity has been associated with diabetes‐induced hepatotoxicity arising from prolonged and uncontrolled hyperglycemia. Therefore, increased δ‐ALAD activity represents improved hepatic function in diabetic situa‐ tions. Antidiabetic properties of jute leaf have been demonstrated but information on its effect on hepatic δ‐ALAD is lacking. Thus, this study revealed that dietary supple‐ mentation of jute leaf restored hepatic δ‐ALAD activities and improved liver antioxi‐ dant status in diabetic rats which is an indication of its hepatoprotective properties. KEYWORDS delta‐aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ‐ALAD), diabetes mellitus, hepatoprotection, jute leaf (Corchorus olitorius), oxidative stress