DIABETIC

Many plants have the potential of preventing and treating acute and chronic diseases. The protective effect of medicinal plant is often maintained through an increased expression of antioxidants and scavenging of free radicals. Cucumis sativus has a long history of use in herbal medicine. Some of its active compounds have demonstrated in vitro anti-tumor, anti- viral and antibacterial effects. The current study was aimed at evaluating the renal protective activity of Cucumis sativus against streptozotocin-induced renal toxicity. A total of twenty five Wistar rats were purchased and used for this study. The animals were grouped into five of five animals each. Group 1 served as normal control and was exposed to standard diet. Group 2 was the negative control administered streptozotocin (STZ) but not treated. Group 3 was the standard drug group (administered STZ and treated with metformin). Group 4 was the first treatment group exposed to STZ and treated with 200 mg/kg bwt of the extract. Group 5 was the second treatment group exposed to STZ and treated with 300 mg/kg bwt of the extract. At the end of the study, animals were fasted overnight and sacrificed. Blood sample was collected from the abdominal aorta of the rats, put into plain containers and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min to obtain serum. The serum was further subjected to renal function assessment. Results from this study revealed that STZ elevated the levels of urea and serum electrolytes. Elevated renal indices were significantly reduced sequel to the administration of the extract and metformin. Findings from this study suggest that the ethanol extract of C. sativus possesses ameliorative properties and can be used in the management of STZ-related renal damage

Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum. and Thonn) Taub, is a leguminous multipurpose tree (Mimosoideae) indigenous to tropical Africa. The plant has long medicinal significance as a molluscide, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent. This study evaluated the effect of Tetrapleura tetraptera saponins on cardiac histology of Streptozotocin diabetic Wistar rats. Saponin fraction of T. tetraptera stem bark was orally administered to streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats at 10, 20 and 40mg/kg body weight (Group 4, 5 and 6). The effect of saponins on cardiac histology of the treated diabetic rats were compared with untreated control rats (Group 1), untreated diabetic control rats (Group 2) and metformin treated diabetic rats (Group 3) after 12 weeks of treatment. Treatment with graded doses of Tetrapleura tetraptera saponins and standard drug metformin resolved the lesions remarkably in the heart tissue with 20mg/kg body weight extract comparing favorably with metformin. There was an additional beneficial effect of vasodilation and increase in blood flow by the extract. The results from this study revealed that Tetrapleura tetraptera saponins ameliorated Streptozotocin induced pathology of heart tissues and may have resolved the lesions remarkably in the heart, with 20mg/kg body weight dose proving to have the best therapeutic effect.