THE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF RAPHANUS SATIVUS ROOTS IN REVERSING THE RENAL ALTERATIONS AND OXIDATIVE DAMAGE AGAINST STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETES IN RATS

Oxidative stress and hyperglycemia are two major factors implicated in the development of renal damage. Roots of Raphanus sativus have been reported to possess both ant diabetic and antioxidant activities. So, the present study was aimed to investigate whether aqueous root extract of Raphanus sativus (ARRS) is effective in reversing the renal alterations and oxidative damage against streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes in rats. Methods: Rats were divided into five groups of six animals each. Group I is normal control which receives distilled water (p.o). Remaining animals were injected with STZ (60 mg/kg; i.p) to induce diabetes. 3 days after injection, animals with blood glucose levels greater than 250 mg/dl were divided into 4 groups: Group II received distilled water, Group III received glibenclamide (GLB; 5 mg/kg) and group IV and V received 100 and 200 mg/kg of ARRS at oral route for 8 weeks. At the end of 8 weeks, blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), albumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were analyzed in all the groups. Results: ARRS (100 and 200 mg/kg) treatment in diabetic rats showed a significant reduction in blood glucose, HbA1c and also reversed the albumin, creatinine, BUN, MDA and GSH levels as compared to untreated diabetic rats. Conclusion: From the present study, it is concluded that the aqueous root extract of Raphanus sativus possesses promising renoprotective activity against diabetes-induced renal alterations.