Abstract
Background Studies suggest that Momordica balsamina (intshungu) possesses hypoglycaemic effects. The effects of Momordica balsamina on diabetic complications such as DN, however, have not been established. Accordingly, this study seeks to investigate the effects of M. balsamina on kidney function in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Methods Methanolic extracts (ME) of M. balsamina's leaves were used in this study. Short-term effects of M. balsamina methanolic extract on kidney function and MAP were studied in STZ-induced diabetic rats treated twice daily with M. balsamina methanolic extract (250 mg/kg), insulin (175 μg/kg, s.c.), and metformin (500 mg/kg) for 5 weeks. Results M. balsamina methanolic extract significantly increased Na+ excretion outputs in STZ-induced diabetic rats by comparison to STZ-diabetic control rats. M. balsamina methanolic extract significantly increased GFR in STZ-diabetic rats with a concomitant decrease in creatinine concentration and also reduced kidney-to-body ratio, albumin excretion rate (AER), and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR). M. balsamina methanolic extract significantly reduced MAP in STZ-diabetic animals by comparison with STZ-diabetic control animals. These results suggest that M. balsamina methanolic extract not only lowers blood glucose but also has beneficial effects on kidney function and blood pressure. Conclusion These findings suggest that M. balsamina may have beneficial effects on some processes that are associated with renal derangement in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
Highlights
Diabetic nephropathy (DN), as a result of sustained hyperglycaemia, affects approximately 20–40% of individuals with diabetes mellitus [1]
These mechanisms include oxidative stress; the advanced glycation end product (AGE) receptor of the AGE pathway and the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system have been implicated to play a role in the development of diabetic nephropathy [8]
Nondiabetic controls, diabetic controls, and diabetic rats treated with Mormodica balsamina (MB), metformin, and insulin were assessed for body weight change and 24-hour water consumption weekly for 5 weeks (Table 1)
Summary
Diabetic nephropathy (DN), as a result of sustained hyperglycaemia, affects approximately 20–40% of individuals with diabetes mellitus [1]. These mechanisms include oxidative stress; the advanced glycation end product (AGE) receptor of the AGE pathway and the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system have been implicated to play a role in the development of diabetic nephropathy [8] These metabolic flux or pathways are mainly activated by sustained hyperglycaemia. M. balsamina methanolic extract significantly increased Na+ excretion outputs in STZ-induced diabetic rats by comparison to STZ-diabetic control rats. M. balsamina methanolic extract significantly reduced MAP in STZ-diabetic animals by comparison with STZ-diabetic control animals These results suggest that M. balsamina methanolic extract lowers blood glucose and has beneficial effects on kidney function and blood pressure. These findings suggest that M. balsamina may have beneficial effects on some processes that are associated with renal derangement in STZ-induced diabetic rats
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