Abstract

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE IN STZ INDUCED DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY IN ALBINO RATS

Yousra Nomier* and Nakul Gupta

Abstract

Diabetic Nephropathy is also known as nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis and intercapillary glomerulonephritis. Gymnema sylvestre is used traditionally in diabetes and a few studies on animal models proved its usefulness in diabetes. So this study was carried out to find out the effectiveness of Gymnema sylvestre in albino rats in diabetic nephropathy. For the diabetic nephroprotective activity study in diabetic rats the rats were fasted for 16 h and classified into five groups of six each. Group I served as normal control, Group II as STZdiabetic control, Groups III and IV STZ-diabetic rats treated with Gymnema sylvestre extracts orally at a dose of 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively and finally Group V STZ-diabetic rats with glibenclamide. The treatment was continued once daily for 14 days. Serum and urine renal parameters like creatinine, urea, uric acid, total proteins, glucose, albumin, antioxidant assays for lipid peroxidation, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase and histopathology of kidney were assessed. For the statistical analysis one way ANOVA followed by Dunnette’s multiple comparison test was used. The % yield of ethanolic extracts was found to be 8.7% for Gymnema sylvestre. The results of phytochemical screening of Gymnema sylvestre leaves showed the presence of phytosterols, like steroids, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, carbohydrates. Ethanolic extracts of leaves of Gymnema sylvestre, reduced diabetic nephropathy incidence dose dependently, when compared to the control and the standard drug Glibenclamide.

Keywords: Gymnema sylvestre, diabetic nephropathy.