Attenuation of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Hepatorenal Damage by Methanol Extract of Justicia carnea Leaves in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract The liver and the kidney are two of the major organs affected by the complications of diabetes mellitus. This study was aimed at investigating the ameliorative effects of methanol extract of Justicia carnea leaves (MEJC) on liver and kidney dysfunction in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic wistar rats. Thirty-six (36) male wistar rats weighing between 180 to 200 g (mean weight = 190 ± 10 g) were purchased and divided into six (6) groups, each with six (6) rats. Group 1 designated as the normal control, receiving water and standard rat chow only, group 2 was induced with diabetes and but untreated, while group 3 rats were induced with diabetes and treated with 50 mg/kg bw of metformin, groups 4, 5 and 6 were induced with diabetes and treated with 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg bw of MEJC, respectively. Diabetes mellitus was induced in the rats by intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg bw of STZ. All the rats were provided with standard rat chow and unrestricted access to water for the period of the study. After 21 days of the treatment, the rats were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis, while the livers and kidneys were harvested and processed for histopathological screening. The acute toxicity study of the methanol extract of J. carnea leaves shows no potential toxic effects. The results also showed that there were significant (p < 0.05) increases in ALP, AST and ALT in the diabetic control when compared to the normal control which significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the metformin treated group (group 3) and the groups given graded doses of the MEJC (groups 4-6). The hepatic and renal indices were significantly attenuated in the diabetic treated groups compared to the diabetic untreated groups. Albumin, direct bilirubin and total bilirubin concentrations were increased in the diabetic control group compared to the diabetic metformin and extract treated groups. There was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) concentration of total protein in the diabetic untreated control group compared to the metformin and extract treated groups. Urea and creatinine levels of the diabetic control increased significantly (p < 0.05) when compared to the normal control while the levels decreased significantly (p < 0 .05) when compared to the metformin treated group and graded doses of the extract respectively. The histomorphology of the liver and kidney sections showed amelioration in the damaged cells to near normal architecture. From the results of this present study, the methanol extract of Justicia carnea leaves attenuated the hepatorenal damage caused by the STZ-induced diabetes in wistar rats and hence have both hepatoprotective and nephroprotective potentials. Keywords:Attenuation, Diabetes mellitus,Hepatorenal damage, Justicia carnea, Streptozotocin