Hepatorenal Protective Effects of Some Plant Extracts on Experimental Diabetes in Male Rats

Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a main worldwide health problem predisposing to noteworthy enhanced mortality. Currently, the therapeutic factors of DM associated with side effects, resistance, toxicity and high cost, so the use of medicinal plants for DM treatment is recommended. The present study investigated the possible therapeutic effects of the extracts of Olea oleaster and Juniperus procera leaves and Opunita ficus-indica stems on hepatorenal injury in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic male rats. Materials and Methods: Diabetes mellitus was induced in experimental animals by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ at a dose of 70 mg kg(-1). The experimental animals were divided into 8 groups. The experimental rats of group 1 were served as normal control. Rats of group 2 were served as diabetic control rats. Diabetic rats of groups 3, 4 and 5 were treated with the extracts of O. oleaster, J. procera and O. ficus-indica, respectively at a dose of 400 mg kg(-1) b.wt.,/day for 5 weeks. Non diabetic rats of groups 6, 7 and 8 were supplemented with O. oleaster, J. procera and O. ficus-indica respectively. At the end of the experiment, the blood, liver and kidney samples were collected from all groups for biochemical and histopathological examinations. Results: The levels of serum glucose, malondialdehyde, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid were significantly enhanced, while the levels of serum glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly declined in diabetic control rats of group 2. Histopathological examination of liver and kidney in diabetic control rats showed severe changes. Supplementation of the studied plant extracts alleviated the hyperglycemic status, biochemical parameters of hepatorenal markers, oxidative stress indicators and histopathological changes of liver and kidney. Conclusion: These findings confirm that the hepatorenal protective effects of these extracts strongly related to the suppression of oxidative stress associated with DM. Moreover, the present study suggested that these extracts were safe and promising therapeutic factors for DM and its complications.