Effects of Sarcocephalus latifolius Afzel. Ex R.Br. Leaf Powder on the Kidney Function of Alloxan-Induced Diabetes Rats

This study assessed the effects of Sarcocephalus latifolius Afzel. Ex R.Br. leaf powder on the kidney function of alloxan-induced diabetes rats.

Forty-five healthy female albino rats were used in the experiment and assigned into 9 different groups. Diabetes was induced intravenously with 150 mg/kg body weight alloxan. Normal and diabetic rats were administered orally with 300, 600, 750mg/kg/ b.w of S. latifolius. After 28 days, the animals were sacrificed and blood with the kidney were harvested for biochemical and histological studies.

In our result, significant (p<0.05) increase was observed in creatinine concentration of diabetic rats, which was significantly (p<0.05) decreased upon administration of 300 and 750 mg/kg body weight of Sarcocephalus latifolius leaf powder. No significant (p>0.05) difference was observed in the urea concentration of all the groups. Significant (p<0.05) difference in sodium concentration was only observed between the diabetic untreated and metformin treated groups whereas, potassium concentration varied significantly (p<0.05) across the groups. Certain degenerative changes in the kidney of normal and diabetic rats treated and untreated with S. latifolius leaf powder were observed but at a lower degree in the group treated with the 300 mg/kg/bw of the leaf powder. The result of this study showed the possible renal toxicity potential of the plant at high dose.