Nephroprotective Potential of Ginger, Diosmin, and Their Combination on Induced Diabetic Nephropathy in a Rat Model: Light and Electron Microscopic Observations

Background: Hyperglycemia is a chronic illness that is associated with diabetes. Patients with diabetes have been found to have many alterations in their renal functioning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential benefits of diosmin and ginger, either separately or in combination, for diabetic nephropathy that was experimentally produced.Materials and Methods: Group I, ten rats stood as a control group. All rats (except control group) were given a single intraperitoneal dose of alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight) to induce type 2 diabetes. Group II consisted of ten diabetic rats. Other ten diabetic rats received 100 mg/kg diosmin orally for six weeks as part of Group III. Also other ten diabetic rats; part of Group IV received 400 mg/kg of ginger orally for six weeks. The last ten diabetic rats in Group V received oral treatment for six weeks with ginger (400 mg/kg) and diosmin (100 mg/kg). Rats were sacrificed after the six weeks, and kidney tissue and blood samples were taken for several biochemical analyses. Both an ultrastructural investigation and hemotoxylin and eosin staining were performed. The desmin and Nrf2 immunohistochemical markers were used. There were statistical and morphometric studies performed. Results: the diosmin plus ginger therapy showed a considerable decrease in blood glucose, urea, and creatinine in contrast to rats with diabetes. After six weeks, there was a noticeable recovery in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Histopathological analysis verified that group V likewise had apparently normal renal tissue architecture. When compared to the diabetic group, area% of Desmin in group V was much lower, while its area% of Nrf2 was significantly greater. Conclusion: Ginger treatment alone or in combination with diosmin exhibited more pronounced improvement in diabetic nephropathy.