THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ALBIZIA ODORATISSIMA BARK ATTENUATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY IN RATS

Purpose: The present study has been designed to investigate the protective effect of methanolic extract of Albizia odoratissima (AO) bark in prevention of streptozotocin (STZ) induced-diabetic nephropathy (DN) in Wistar rats. Methods: Healthy Wistar rats of either sex weighing 180-200g were employed in the present study. Experimental diabetes was induced in rats by injecting STZ at a dose of 45 mg/kg (i.p.). Assessment of DN was done by estimating glucose level in blood and urine samples. Moreover, different antioxidant parameters like catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in kidney tissue samples were assessed. Additionally, inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1 (IL-1), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were assessed in renal tissue. Results: Methanolic extract of AO bark (AOB) has shown significant prevention against diabetes-associated nephropathy. The bark extract decreased glucose levels both in urine and blood sample. The AO extract, either alone or in combination with a standard drug (glibenclamide) showed a significant reduction in oxidative stress in renal tissue, as demonstrated by increased catalase and SOD levels or decreased TBARS levels compared to diabetic rats. Additionally, methanolic extract of AOB alone or in combination with glibenclamide significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines like IL-1, TGF-β, and TNF-α in diabetic rats. Conclusion: Our studies suggest that methanolic extract of AOB might be beneficial for the treatment of DN. The ability of AO to attenuate DN may be mediated by the inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines by AOB extract.