Evaluation of the Nephroprotective Properties of Morus mesozygia Linn. Stapf., Leaf Extracts on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

Aim: To assess the effect of Morus mesozygia Linn. Stapf., leaf extracts on the kidneys of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats.

Study Design: Case-controlled experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Biochemistry Research Laboratory, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, between June 2018-April 2019.

Methodology: A total of 65 male albino rats that weighed between 150 g to 200 g were used for this research study. Three different extracted solvents; aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic leaves extracts were administered to different groups of the rats. The male albino rats for this study were induced with a single dose of 40 mg/kg b.wt, intraperitoneally of streptozotocin in 0.1M of citrate buffer, pH 4.5. The diabetic male rats were those whose fasting blood glucose (FBG) were from 250 mg/dl or 13 mmol/L and above. The rats were divided into different experimental groups based on the treatment regimen; administration of the herb was done orally after intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. They were sacrificed after 30 days and blood samples were collected for the estimation of kidney function parameters using both electrochemical and spectrophotometric methods. Histological analysis was done and slides were stained using H & E staining technique. Graph pad prism (version 5.01) was used for statistical analysis and p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: The results showed that intraperitoneal induction of diabetes with streptozotocin caused a significant increase (p<.05) in the urea and creatinine (from 13.93 ± 0.71 to 18.19 ± 1.24 mmol/l and from 154.4±13.03 to 173.8 ± 3.34 mmol/l) levels respectively. However, the administration of various concentrations of Morus mesozygia Linn. Stapf., aqueous, methanolic and ethanolic leaf extracts showed significant (p<.05) decreases in the values of both parameters. Electrolytes values were also affected by the induction and treatments.

Conclusion: Nephroprotective effect of Morus mesozygia Linn. Stapf., leaf extracts may be due to its high content of tannins. However, further studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms are required.