AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF SOLANUM XANTHOCARPUM AGAINST CHEMICAL-INDUCED DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY IN RATS
Abstract
Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the renoprotective effect of Solanum xanthocarpum leaf extract (SXLE) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic nephropathy (DN) in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (55 mg/kg) to induce diabetes. Rats with fasting blood glucose levels >250 mg/dL (13.9 mmol/L) 7 days after induction were classified as diabetics and added to the study. For 8 weeks, SXLE was administered orally to diabetic rats at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day. Body weight, kidney weight, kidney hypertrophy index, and blood glucose levels were recorded. Serum creatinine, albumin, triglycerides, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio were assessed. Renal oxidative stress markers and histopathological changes were assessed at the conclusion of the trial period. Results: Diabetic rats induced by STZ exhibited significant hyperglycemia (343±24.23 vs. 83.71±3.10 mg/dL in normal controls [NC]), reduced body weight, increased kidney hypertrophy index (0.98±0.06 vs. 0.34±0.03), elevated serum creatinine (1.51±0.25 vs. 0.6±0.19 mg/dL), increased BUN (31.86±1.24 vs. 17.15±1.16 mg/dL), and hypertriglyceridemia (150.7±1.74 vs. 81.55±3.10 mg/dL) (p<0.05). Treatment with SXLE at 200 mg/kg significantly reduced blood glucose levels (212±24.43 mg/dL), serum creatinine (0.9±0.10 mg/dL), BUN (21.97±0.24 mg/dL), triglycerides (117.2±3.29 mg/dL), and kidney hypertrophy index (0.74±0.05) compared with diabetic controls. Oxidative stress was attenuated, as shown by increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione levels, along with decreased malondialdehyde. Histopathological examination demonstrated dose-dependent improvement in glomerular structure, with greater protection observed at 200 mg/kg. Conclusion: SXLE attenuated renal dysfunction and structural damage in STZ-induced diabetic rats, possibly through improved glycemic control and antioxidant activity. These findings suggest that SXLE could be useful in treating DN.