Maintenance of renal integrity of diabetic wistar rat treated with aqueous extract of psidium guajava (guava) leaves

Abstract

Herbal medicines constitute the main component of traditional medicines, which have been used for thousands of years in the treatment of ailments, including diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of aqueous extract Psidium guajava leaves in the maintenance of renal integrity in diabetic Wistar rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced using a single intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin of 70mg/kg bodyweight and established a persistent state of hyperglycemia after 72hours. The aqueous extract of Psidium Guajava and metformin of 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg bodyweight was administered daily for a period of 4 weeks.

Results showed that the relative kidney weight of  rats in the diabetic group was significant (p<0.05) compared to the other groups. The body weight and blood glucose levels in rats in the  control, diabetic +guava leaves extract and diabetic +metformin groups were statistically significant (p<0.05) when compared to those in the diabetic group  (P<0.05). The kidneys of rats in the control group and guava only groups showed normal histoarchitecture. Those in the diabetic group showed disorganization of macula densa and urine space was large, while those in the diabetic+guava and diabetic+metformin groups showed little disorganization in macula densa and urine space was slightly large. Those in the control and guava only groups showed normal collagen distribution while the ones in the diabetic group showed a lot of accumulation of collagen. The rats in the diabetic+guava and diabetic+metformin groups showed a little accumulation of collagen. These findings reveal that aqueous extract of Psidium guajava leaves has the ability to lower blood glucose levels and thus, prevent kidney histoarchitecture damage caused by Diabetes mellitus