Comparative study of aqueous, methanol and petroleum ether extracts of unripe Carica papaya seed on liver and kidney function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Background: Diabetes as chronic disease has serious complications which can affect multiple vital organ systems, thereby leading to more severe and irreversible pathological conditions. This study investigated the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective potentials of unripe Carica papaya (UCP) seed extract in diabetic rats using three different solvents. Methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats were used. Twenty-five out of thirty were induced with diabetes following an overnight fast, by a single intravenous injection of 60 mg/kg STZ. The rats were grouped into six groups (n=5):NC: normal control, DC: diabetic control, DSTD: diabetic and treated with glibenclaimide, aqueous (DAUCP), methanol (DMUCP) and petroleum ether (DPEUCP) rats were induced but treated with 200 mg of aqueous, methanol and petroleum ether extract of UCP seed extract respectively. The extracts were administered to the animals orally for 21 days. Results: The animals administered with different extracts showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in blood sugar level, ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, urea, creatinine, BUN, total and direct bilirubin and an increase level in total protein, albumin, globulin and sodium, potassium, bicarbonate and chloride when compared to the diabetic control group. Conclusion: It can be inferred from that data that the extracts have hepatoprotective and nephroprotective potentials on the liver and kidney. This implies that unripe C. papaya seed can be effectively used in the management of diabetes.