Publication:

The synergistic reno-protective effect of Rhizophora mucronata and Avicennia marina aqueous extracts against diabetes induced renal changes

Background The conventional medications of diabetes mellitus have many side effects that bring to diabetic cases, so there is a need for introducing natural remedies with antidiabetic effect. The objectives of this study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effects of aqueous extracts of a mixture of R. mucronata and A. marina against experimentally streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats and to assess its efficacy in alleviating diabetes-induced impact on kidney function.

Methods Sixty rats distributed into four groups (n=15) were used in this study. They included the control, STZ-induced diabetic, STZ-induced diabetic treated with a mixture of Rhizophora mucronata and Avicennia marina extract and non-diabetic group received a mixture of Rhizophora mucronata and Avicennia marina extract. After 6 weeks of treatment, the biochemical and histological alterations were investigated in all rats.

Results Daily oral administration of a mixture of R. mucronata and A. marina leaves extract to STZ-induced diabetic significant (p≤0.001) increase serum insulin levels and reduced fasting blood glucose levels, serum BUN and uric acid compared to the untreated diabetic rats. This mixture also improved the renal degeneration and inflammation induced by diabetes and reduced the number of the apoptotic cell in both renal cortex and medulla.

Conclusions The mixture of R. mucronata and A. marina extract significantly improve the diabetes-associated biochemical and histopathological renal changes indicating its potential effect as a natural nephroprotective agent against diabetic-induced nephropathy.