<i>Moringa oleifera</i> ameliorates nephropathic changes in alloxaninduced diabetic adult wistar rats

Abstract

Background: Diabetic nephropathy has been identified as a leading cause of chronic kidney disease which is a risk factor for kidney failure. Moringa oleifera (MO) is popularly known to possess various nutritional and health benefits. This study investigated the effects of crude aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera on the kidney of alloxan-induced diabetes in adult wistar rats.

Methodology: Fifty six (56) adult wistar rats (150 – 200g) were randomly divided into 7 groups (n=8) with group A as control group, while animals in groups B, C, D, E and F were induced with multiple dosage of alloxan monohydrate (100mg/kgbw) intraperitoneally. Group B served as the diabetic group and animals in groups C, D and E were administered 100, 300 and 500 mg/kgbw of MO respectively. Further, animals in group F which received Diabinese (15mg/kgbw) served as the pharmacological control group. Group G animals were given 100mg/kgbw of aqueous extract of MO before induction of diabetes. The parameters assessed in this study include animals’ weight, blood glucose levels, serum creatinine levels, and kidney histology.

Results: The results showed that serum creatinine levels were increased as a result of diabetic nephropathy but reduced with MO administration. Histologically, kidney sections from the diabetic group presented with glomerular sclerosis, wide capsular spaces, thickening of Bowman’s capsule, tubular necrosis, focal areas of massive inflammatory cells infiltration and acellular material. MO treated groups showed glomeruli and tubules in various stages of tissue repair varied on a dose dependent basis, higher concentrations being more effective. Sections from animals pretreated with MO showed that Moringa oleifera appeared to have slowed the action of Alloxan on the kidney.

Conclusion: This study, therefore, concluded that treatment with Moringa oleifera ameliorated the acute effects of alloxan-induced diabetic complications on renal microarchitecture and probably contributed to the restoration of morphology and hence the functions of the kidney in adult Wistar rats.

Keywords: Kidney, Alloxan, diabetes, nephropathy, Moringa oleifera, microarchitecture