The present study evaluates the nephroprotective effects of ursolic acid in a murine model of gentamicin induced renal damage. Wistar albino rats of either sex, weighing 150–200 g were divided into 5 groups; normal saline, gentamicin 80 mg/kg, intraperitoneally for 8 days, ursolic acid at 2, 5, and 10 mg/kg, per oral for 8 days, ursolic acid administered 3 days prior and concurrently with gentamicin for 5 days. Blood urea, serum creatinine, uric acid and blood urea nitrogen analyses and microscopic examination of kidney were performed. Gentamicin treatment caused nephrotoxicity as evidenced by marked elevation in serum urea, serum uric acid, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (162.33 ± 9.92 mg/dL, 3.13 ± 0.12 mg/dL, 6.85 ± 0.35 mg/dL and 75.86 ± 4.64 mg/dL; resp.) when compared to the saline treated groups. Co-administration of ursolic acid with gentamicin decreased the rise in these parameters in a dose dependent manner. Histopathological analysis revealed epithelial loss with intense granular degeneration in gentamicin treated rats, whereas ursolic acid mitigated the severity of gentamicin-induced renal damage. To conclude, our data suggest that ursolic acid exhibits renoprotective effect in gentamicin induced renal damage and further studies on its mechanis of action are warranted.

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Abstract:While Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) continues to be a disease of the elderly and the middle aged, currently there has been an upsurge in the incidence of T2DM in the adolescents and the young. Family history, maternal gestational diabetes, low birth weight have contributory role to play in the pathophysiology of T2DM. The pathophysiology underlying the development of alterations in glucose metabolism ranging from abnormal fasting glucose (AFG) to impaired glucose intolerance (IGT) is multifactorial. The early onset of diabetes in childhood or adolescence heralds a long disease interval with resultant escalation of the probability of development of co-morbidities and the entire range of macro-and microvascular complications.