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Background: Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of drug induced nephrotoxicity. The study aimed to determine the nephroprotective and ameliorative effects of Carica papaya seed extract in paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Objectives: To carry out phytochemical screening of Carica papaya, measure serum urea, creatinine and uric acid and describe the histopathological status of the kidneys in the treated and untreated groups. Methods: Phytochemical screening of the extract was done. Thirty two adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n= 8 in each group). Group A (control) animals received normal saline for seven days, group B (paracetamol group) received normal saline, and paracetamol single dose on the 8th day. Group C received Carica papaya extract (CPE) 500 mg/ kg, and paracetamol on the 8th day, while group D, rats were pretreated with CPE 750 mg/kg/day,and paracetamol administration on the 8th day. Samples of kidney tissue were removed for histopathological examination. Results: Screening of Carica papaya showed presence of nephroprotective pytochemicals. Paracetamol administration resulted in significant elevation of renal function markers. CPE ameliorated the effect of paracetamol by reducing the markers as well as reversing the paracetamol-induced changes in kidney architecture. Conclusion: Carica papaya contains nephroprotective phytochemicals and may be useful in preventing kidney damage induced by paracetamol.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the capacity of lycopene against diabetes-induced oxidative damage in Wistar rats. Thirty Wistar rats of both sexes, twenty-five of which were diabetic, were used. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) 60 mg/kg body weight and it was confirmed by the elevated blood glucose ≥200 mg/dl after three days. The rats were divided randomly into groups 1 to 6, each containing 5 rats. Group 1 (Normal control) and Group 2 (Diabetic control) rats were administered 0.5 ml of olive oil; Groups 3, 4, and 5 rats were respectively administered 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg body weight of lycopene, while Group 6 rats were administered 2 mg/kg body weight of Glibenclamide. All administrations were done orally and once daily for twentyeight days. At the end of the treatment, serum levels of antioxidant enzymes, cortisol and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. Administration of graded doses of lycopene to diabetic animals significantly (P<0.05) decreased the blood glucose concentration after four weeks of treatment when compared to diabetic untreated animals. Serum levels of cortisol and MDA (index of oxidative stress) were reduced while there were up-regulated activities of serum endogenous enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) in diabetic animals treated with all doses of lycopene when compared with diabetic untreated animals. Overall, lycopene attenuated the biomedical alterations in STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Lycopene therefore possesses antioxidant activity at the doses tested in this study.

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Background: The currently prescribed anti-diabetic drugs have been clinically proven to develop resistance to reduce the elevated blood glucose level, reduce haemoglobin A1c (HbA1) concentration, possess insulin insensitivity issues as well as other pharmacokinetic disturbances.Aim: To evaluate the activity of peroxisome proliferative activated receptor (PPRA) gamma agonist; pioglitazone and fenofibrate treated insulin resistant rats.Materials and Methods: Apparently healthy male rats were intraperitoneally injected into diabetes with STZ (30 mg/kg b. w.) for five days and fed with diet rich in fat for 8 weeks. Pioglitazone (20 mg/kg b. w.) and fenofibrate (10 mg/kg b. w.) was administered by oral gavage to rats which are obese and resistant to insulin for 15 consecutive days. Over the last 7 days, blood collected intraperitoneally was used to test for glucose and insulin tolerance as well as gluconeogenesis. At the end of 15 days experimental treatment period, blood collected was used for biochemical assay whereas in the liver and skeletal muscle, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and insulin receptor substrate -1 (IRS-1) protein expression were assayed for using immune-histochemistry.Result: The low-dose STZ and HFD -induced obese rats showed significant (p<0.05) insulin resistance and obesity when compared with the control animals. Treatment of test group animals with 20 mg/kg b. w. of