Dolichos biflorus Linn attenuate progression of renal damage in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Dolichos biflorus Linn. (Fabaceae), commonly known as Horse gram is a medicinal plant, used in folk medicine for treating kidney stones and diabetes mellitus. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of daily oral feeding of various doses of methanolic extract of Dolichos biflorus seeds (DB) for 42 days on blood glucose concentrations and kidney functions in Alloxan-diabetic rats. Plasma glucose levels, body weight, serum creatinine, and urinary albumin levels were monitored on <TEX>$15^{th}$</TEX>, <TEX>$29^{th}$</TEX>, <TEX>$43^{rd}$</TEX> day. Renal hypertrophy was assessed as the ratio between the kidney weight and body weight of the rats. Plasma glucose concentrations in Alloxan-diabetic rats were significantly reduced by the administration of DB (350 mg/kg) and DB (700 mg/kg) on day 15 and onwards (P < 0.01). After 15 days of Alloxan administration urinary albumin levels (UAE) were over 5 fold higher in diabetic controls as compared to normal controls. Treatment with DB significantly prevented the rise in UAE levels from day 15 to 43 in comparison to diabetic controls (P < 0.01). Renal hypertrophy was significantly higher in diabetic controls as compared to non-diabetic controls. Treatments with DB (350 mg/kg) and DB (700 mg/kg) significantly prevented renal hypertrophy (P < 0.01) as compared to diabetic controls. DB (175 mg/kg) failed to modify renal hypertrophy. Thus the present study indicates that methanolic extract of Dolichos biflorus may be useful in management of hyperglycemia and kidney functions in Alloxan-diabetic rats.