Nephroprotective Effects of Vernonia amygdalina in Alloxan-induced Diabetes in Rats

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of end-stage renal failure worldwide. Purpose: The methanol leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina (MLVA) was thus investigated for its nephroprotective effects in diabetes.

Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal (I.P) injection of a freshly prepared solution of Alloxan monohydrate (100 mg/kg). Forty-eight hours after alloxan administration, rats with fasting blood glucose levels of 200 mg/dl and above were used for the study. Animals were grouped into five (A-E) of nine animals each. Group A was non-diabetic non treated control; Group B animals were the diabetic untreated control rats while groups C, D and E animals were diabetic and treated with glibenclamide, MLVA 200 mg/kg and MVLA 400 mg/kg respectively. Biochemical changes were evaluated by measuring the serum markers of kidney damage (creatinine and blood urea nitrogen). Markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant activities were measured in renal tissues. Histopathological and immunohistochemical changes were also evaluated.

Results: Four-week administration of MLVA produced significant (p<0.05) decrease in serum creatinine, urea, and oxidative markers but it caused a significant increase in enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidant as well as downregulation of Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and upregulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2).

Conclusion: MLVA ameliorates diabetic nephropathy through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects.