Preventive effect of gymnema sylvestre homeopathic preparation on streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic nephropathy in rats

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy is a long-term complication of diabetes mellitus. Chronic hyperglycemia leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species leading to oxidative stress. Hyperglycemia and oxidative stress are involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of homeopathic preparation of Gymnema sylvestre Mother tincture, 6C and 30 C potencies on diabetic nephropathy in Wistar rats. Diabetic nephropathy was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) 15 min after Nicotinamide (230 mg/kg, i.p.) administration. Rats were divided into six groups (n = 6). Group 1 and 2 was kept normal control and diabetic control respectively whereas Groups 3–5 consist of diabetic nephropathy rats treated with different doses of G. sylvestre Mother tincture, 6C and 30 C potencies for 45 days. Glimepride (10 mg/kg) was used as standard. Diabetic nephropathy was assessed by determining serum glucose, urea, uric acid, creatinine level and tissue histological examination. Tissue antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH, LPO) level was measured to assess the oxidative stress. Also the level of advanced glycation end products in kidney was determined. Mother tincture, 6C and 30 C potencies of G. sylvestre produced significant attenuation in the biochemical parameters used to assess diabetic nephropathy. Moreover, oxidative stress and AGE’s level in kidney was also found to be significantly reduced. So, it can be concluded that Mother tincture, 6C and 30 C potencies of G. sylvestre have protective effect against diabetic nephropathy via inhibition of Oxidative stress and AGE’s.