Objective: To investigate the protective effect of Ajwa date seed and fruit on renal histological changes in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Methods: This was an experimental study and was conducted in Post Graduate Medical Institute. The duration of study was 6 weeks. In this study random allotment of 32 rats was done in four groups. Group 1 was treated as control. Diabetes was induced in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th group by alloxan injection intra peritoneally. Group 2 was diabetic non treated while group 3 and 4 were treated with Ajwa seed and flesh respectively. After six weeks, animals were anaesthetized and kidneys were then removed without delay and weighed. Kidney paraffin sections were prepared and stained with hematoxylin& eosin (H&E) and with Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) technique. Glomerular diameters were estimated. Glomerular volume determined by stage micrometer. Vascular, tubular injury and glomerular sclerosis were studied semi quantitatively. Results: The data showed that Ajwa date seed significantly reduced hyperglycemia but did not normalize the fasting blood glucose. We found exceedingly significant improvement in kidney weight, glomerular diameter, tubular and vascular injury with Ajwa date seed suggesting reduction in diabetic nephropathy. Ajwa seed diet found more effective in reducing nephropathy than Ajwa fruit diet. Current study displayed that the seed of Ajwa showed significant improvement in renal histological characteristics in diabetic rats. Conclusion: The findings showed that Ajwa date seed and flesh reduce loss of tubular and vascular damage in alloxan induced diabetes. Key Words: Oxidative stress, Kidney, Diabetes, Ajwa, Antioxidant, histopathology How to cite: Imran I., Mansoor M., Naqvi F., Akhtar M., Arshad W., Khan F. Evaluation of protective effect of Ajwa seed and fruit on renal histopathological changes in diabetic nephropathic rats. Esculapio 2021;17(01):104-109

Background: Plant derived medicines are widely used in traditional culture all over the world. Objectives: To determine the effect of Celery Seed Extract (CSE) on uric acid levels in hyperuricemic rats and to compare the effect of allopurinol and CSE. Methods: It was an animal experimental research study. Group A served as negative control whereas Group B served as positive control. CSE was given orally to three groups of rats (C, D, and E). One hour prior to administration of CSE; potassium oxonate was injected intraperitoneally in all groups except negative control to induce hyperuricemia. Similarly, group F was given allopurinol one hour after injection of potassium oxonate. Blood samples were collected for uric acid estimation. Results: It was found that administration of both CSE (group C, D, E) and allopurinol (group F) significantly lowered serum uric acid levels (p<0.001) as compared to positive control (group B). Serum uric acid lowering effect of both drugs CSE and allopurinol was found to be statistically significant on day 3rd and day 7th and was almost comparable. Conclusions: Celery seed extract significantly reduces serum uric acid levels in potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemic rats and its uric acid lowering effect was comparable with that of allopurinol.