Attenuation of diabetic nephropathy in alloxan-induced diabetic rats by Solanum macrocarpon Linn aqueous leaves extract

Solanum macrocarpon leaf is one of the medicinal plants locally used to manage diabetic nephropathy. This has been established in scientific studies as one of the main factors responsible for kidney damage in diabetes mellitus patients. Hence, our study investigated the attenuation of diabetic nephropathy in alloxan-induced diabetic rats using Solanum macrocarpon Linn aqueous extract leaves. A total of 48 male Wistar rats of 7 to 8 weeks old were used in this study. A single injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce diabetes in rats. Induced diabetic rats were then administered different doses (12.45, 24.90 and 49.80 mg/kg body weight) of Solanum macrocarpon (SM) leaves aqueous extract orally for 14 days. Then kidney and serum were subsequently obtained for oxidative stress biomarkers, kidney function indices as well as inflammatory parameters determination using their respective procedures. Induced diabetic rats administered SM leaves aqueous extract showed significant (p<0.05) increase in the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH), an antioxidant enzymes studied compared with the diabetic control group. However, induced diabetic rats administered SM leaves aqueous extract showed significant (p<0.05) decrease in lipid peroxidation, fasting blood glucose, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urea and uric acid levels as well as levels of inflammation compared with the diabetic control group. Our findings provide experimental evidence that SM leaves aqueous extract has an anti-nephropathy ability which might be useful for diabetes mellitus patients globally.