Antioxidant Activity of the Ethyl Acetate Extract of Potentilla indica on Kidneys of Streptozotocin‐Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic-degenerative disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. This condition may lead to an increase of the oxidative stress, which contributes to the development of diabetes complications including diabetic kidney disease. Several studies have addressed the antioxidant effects of a wide range of plant extracts in the treatment of diabetes. Potentilla indica is a traditional herbal medicine in Asia, employed in the treatment of several diseases including diabetes, due to its secondary metabolites with bioactive functions such as antioxidant activity. Therefore, we hypothesize that the ethyl acetate extract of Potentilla indica decreases the oxidative stress on kidneys of streptozotocin-Induced diabetic rats improving the diabetic condition. Objective The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate extract of Potentilla indica on kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats. Methods In this research we assessment the antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate extract of Potentilla indica by employing in vitro assays to measure its protective effect on lipid peroxidation and ferric reducing antioxidant power. We also tasted the extract in male Wistar rats (300-350 g), which were randomly divided into 4 groups: normoglycemic control, diabetic control, normoglycemic treated with the extract and diabetic treated with the extract. All groups were administered orally once daily for 60 days with the vehicle for the control groups and with the ethyl acetate extract of P. indica (25 mg/Kg) for the treated groups, respectively. After 60 days of treatment, rats were euthanized to obtain homogenate and mitochondria of kidney, which were used for the determination of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activities, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation and catalase activity. Results The ethyl acetate extract of Potentilla indica possessed in vitro antioxidant activity at different concentrations in contrast with Trolox as positive control. Furthermore, in the treated diabetic group, the extract reduced lipid peroxidation, ROS production, and restored mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes and catalase activities when compared with diabetic control group. Conclusion Our data suggest that the ethyl acetate extract of Potentilla indica possessed both in vitro as in vivo antioxidant activity on kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.