ATTENUATION OF STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY IN WISTAR RATS BY ETHANOLIC BARK EXTRACT OF ANTHOCEPHALUS CADAMBA WITH PYRIDOXINE VIA REDUCTION OF OXIDATIVE STRESS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2026v19i2.57715Keywords:
Anthocephalus cadamba, Diabetic nephropathy, Oxidative stress, Pyridoxine,, Antioxidant enzymes, StreptozotocinAbstract
Objective: A significant microvascular consequence of diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy (DN) causes end-stage renal disease and progressive renal impairment. Oxidative stress and inflammation are major contributors in developing DN. In this research, ethanolic bark extract of Anthocephalus cadamba (200 and 400 mg/kg) with or without pyridoxine (100 mg/kg) was tested for its nephroprotective efficacy against DN in Wistar rats produced by streptozotocin (STZ).
Methods: STZ (45 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally once, causing diabetes. Eight groups of diabetic rats received oral treatment for 8 weeks with either pyridoxine (100 mg/kg), A. cadamba extract (200 or 400 mg/kg), or both. Renal function was examined by measuring serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Antioxidant indices, like catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were quantified in kidney homogenates. One-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s test were used to evaluate the collected data. Hematological examination of the kidney tissue was also carried out.
Results: STZ administration significantly elevated BUN and serum creatinine levels (p<0.001) and reduced antioxidant enzyme activities in renal tissue compared to normal controls. Treatment with A. cadamba extract, especially in combination with pyridoxine, significantly (p<0.001) reduced serum creatinine and BUN levels while restoring renal GSH, CAT, and SOD levels toward normal. Histopathological examination revealed that the extract markedly improved renal architecture and reduced tubular degeneration and interstitial inflammation in diabetic rats. The nephroprotective effect of A. cadamba bark extract may be attributed to its rich phytochemical composition, particularly flavonoids and triterpenoids, which enhance antioxidant defense and attenuate oxidative stress–induced renal injury. Pyridoxine co-administration further potentiated these protective effects, likely through synergistic antioxidant mechanisms.
Conclusion: Ethanolic bark extract of A. cadamba, alone and in combination with pyridoxine, exhibits significant nephroprotective effects against STZ-induced DN in rats by reducing oxidative stress and improving renal function. These results suggest the therapeutic potential of A. cadamba as a complementary approach in managing diabetic kidney complications.
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