Abstract

EVALUATION OF DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY ACTIVITY OF PLANT LEUCAS ASPERA IN ALBINO RATS

Yousra Nomier* and Nakul Gupta

ABSTRACT

Diabetic Nephropathy is also known as nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis and intercapillary glomerulonephritis. Leucas aspera is used traditionally in diabetes and a few studies on animal models proved their usefulness in diabetes. So this study was carried out to evaluate the diabetic nephropathy activity of Leucas aspera spreng. in albino rats. For the diabetic nephroprotective activity study in diabetic rats the rats were fasted for 16 h and classified into five groups of six each. Group I served as normal control, Group II as STZdiabetic control, Groups III and IV STZ-diabetic rats treated with Leucas aspera extracts orally at a dose of 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively and finally Group V STZ-diabetic rats with glibenclamide. The treatment was continued once daily for 14 days. Serum and urine renal parameters like creatinine, urea, uric acid, total proteins, glucose, albumin, antioxidant assays for lipid peroxidation, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and histopathology of kidney were assessed. For the statistical analysis one way ANOVA followed by Dunnette’s multiple comparison test was used.The % yield of ethanolic extracts was found to be 6.2% for Leucas aspera. The phytochemical screening of Leucas aspera spreng. showed the presence of phytosterols, like steroids, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, carbohydrates. Ethanolic extracts of Leucas aspera reduced diabetic nephropathy incidence, when compared to the control and the standard drug Glibenclamide but the maximum effect was shown by the ethanolic extract of Leucas aspera at higher dose levels i.e. 200 mg/kg b.w.

Keywords: Leucas aspera, diabetic nephropathy.