Nephroprotective and nephrocurative potential of Momordica dioica Roxb in streptozotocin induced diabetic nephropathy

Abstract

Momordica dioica Roxb (MD) is a climbing creeper and known as Kakora in Hindi. This plant possesses hypoglycemic gastroprotective and ulcer healing activities. Fruit is reported for hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and antidiabetic potential [1,2]. On the basis of traditional claim MD fruit was taken up for the study. Dried and powdered MD fruit was defatted and extracted with 95% ethanol. For screening of the activity, Wistar albino rats of either sex were divided into normal control, diabetic control and treated groups. Diabetes was induced with single dose of streptozotocin (55mg/kg i.p.). In protective regimen, 4–30 days experimental period, ethanolic extract of MD fruit was administered as orally at 200 and 400mg/kg/day, whereas curative regimen IT was administered onward 18 days upto 30 days. The final serum glucose, urea, creatinine and urine albumin levels were measured as functional profile of kidney function which was found to be significantly lower in treated groups than the diabetic control group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly (p<0.001) lowered in treated groups compare to diabetic control group. Treated groups have shown significant increased (p<0.001) in reduced glutathione (GSH) level which was reduced in diabetic control group compare to control groups. Change in body weight was found to be non significant. Results were supported by histopathological studies.