Prosopis cineraria have been traditionally used in the treatment of renal diseases and hyperglycemia. In the present study, ethanolic extract of Prosopis cineraria (EEPC) bark was evaluated for diabetic nephropathy in experimentally induced type-2 diabetic rats. High fat diet and a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin produced type-2 diabetes. Insulin resistance was confirmed by oral glucose tolerance test. A significant elevation in blood glucose and impaired kidney functions was observed in diabetic rats. Four weeks of EEPC treatment (150 and 300 mg/kg/day) significantly decreased the elevated blood glucose levels and restored body weight in diabetic rats. Moreover, significantly decreased serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea nitrogen and increased albumin and total proteins. Glomerular hyperfiltration and urinary albumin excretion rate were significantly decreased in EEPC treated diabetic control rats. Increased renal MDA and decreased GSH, SOD and NO metabolites are associated with longstanding diabetes which was significantly restored with four weeks of EEPC treatment. Histopathological observation in diabetic rats showed mesangial expansion, tubular dilatation and glomerular basement membrane thickening, which was dose dependently restored with EEPC treatment. In conclusion, EEPC ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in a rat model of type-2 diabetes.
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