Renoprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Rheum ribes root in diabetic female rats.
OBJECTIVE
Medical plants, as rich sources of natural antioxidants with antidiabetic effects, are used worldwide to diminish a variety of symptoms and many diseases. R. ribes L., which belongs to the family of polygonaceae, can provide symptomatic relief and assist in the prevention of the secondary complications of the diabetes.


METHODS
36 female adult rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 6. Normal Control groups treated with normal saline. Positive control groups treated with hydroalcohlic extract of R. ribes root (150 mg/kg) daily by gavages for 4 consecutive weeks. Diabetes was inducedby injection of 120 mg/kg alloxan monohydrate intraperitoneally. Two diabetic groups were treated with different doses of R. ribes root extract. The sixth diabetic groups were treated with glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg). At the end of 28 days, blood samples were collected and their kidney tissues were processed for light microscopy.


RESULTS
The results showed that hydro-alcoholic extract of R. ribes decreased the level of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea and creatinine in diabetic rats (p<0.05) in compared with diabetic rats, while the level of HDL increased at the same group (p<0.05). Histopathological changes of kidney samples were comparable with respective control. In diabetic rats, kidney sections showed atrophy of glomerular capillaries with increased Bowman's space and acute tubular necrosis. The groups that were treated with R. ribes root were improved towards normal condition.


CONCLUSIONS
It is interesting to note that hydroalcohlic extract of R. ribes root improves renal dysfunction in alloxan-induced diabetic rats through controlling blood glucose and renal protective effects.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Urmia University , Urmia, I. R. Iran.
Shokri
S
Hamzeh
Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Urmia University , Urmia, I. R. Iran.
Farah
F
Farokhi
Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Urmia University , Urmia, I. R. Iran.
Reza
R
Heydari
Artemia and Aquatic Animals Research Institute of Urmia University, Urmia, I. R. Iran.
Ramin
R
Manaffar
Alloxan; Diabetes mellitus; Rheum ribes root extract