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Abstract

Oxidative stress has been recommended as a contributory factor in complication and progression of diabetes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of Rhizophora mucronata Leaves on streptozotocin generated oxidative stress induced diabetic nephropathy in rats. Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control, diabetic untreated and diabetic treated with ethanolic extract of Rhizophora mucronata leaves (ERML) at 250 and 500 mg/kg doses, respectively. Experimental diabetic nephropathy was induced by a single intraperitoneal (i.p) administration of STZ 60 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). The body weight, plasma glucose, creatinine, urea, uric acid as well as total protein along with oxidative stress parameters were investigated in various groups of rats. Histopathological analyses were also conducted on the kidney tissues. In STZ treated rats LPO were increased whereas the level of SOD, CAT and GSH were decreased significantly. ERML at 250 and 500 mg/kg, in a dose-dependent manner, significantly improve all levels as compared to diabetic rats. Destruction of the liver architecture of the hepatocytes in the diabetic group showed the signs of necrosis, degeneration, dilatation, and inflammation in the central vein and blood vessels. In the kidney, shrinkage and lesion in Bowman's capsule were observed. ERML (250 and 500 mg/kg) dose-dependently acted as an antioxidant thereby preventing oxidative damage in the diabetic kidney. INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Sustained hyperglycemia is further associated with long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of various organs and is a major factor in the development of many complications in patients with diabetes 1, 2 .