EVALUATION OF RENAL EFFECTS OF HYDRO-ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF PORTULACA OLERACEA (WHOLE PLANT) IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Herbal plants are effective in the treatment of various diseases.  More or less they are unscientifically and improperly used. These plants deserve detailed studies in the light of modern medicine. Having  detailed  investigation  and  documentation   of herbal plants  used  in local   health traditions   and  after that doing  pharmacological  evaluation  of these  plants  and  their taxonomical   classification  can lead  to the  development  of  valuable  plant  drugs  for  many  diseases. In the present  study, the renal effects  of  hydro-alcoholic extract  of Portulaca  oleracea (whole  plant)  were  evaluated  by performing  the kidney  function  tests.  Firstly the hydro-alcoholic extract of the plant was made.  Rats were made diabetic by a single dose of 120 mg/kg b.w.  After observing them for 72 hours, the blood glucose levels were checked. The  rats  having  blood  glucose  levels  above  200 mg/dl  were  taken  for  the  study.  The extract was first subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening.  The doses taken were 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of many plant constituents. The effect of the extracts on kidneys was evaluated, which showed variable results.