Ethanol extracts of Terminalia catappa leaves and Persea americana seed attenuate renal damage associated with Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Kidney is an essential organ responsible for excretion and detoxification. The use of streptozotocin in rat model experiments has provided rooms for researchers to test the effectiveness of medicinal plants that might possess nephroprotective and antidiabetic properties; so as to help in the treatment of diabetes complications. The study was aimed to evaluate the attenuating effects of ethanol extracts of Taminalia catappa leaves and Persea americana seed on renal damage associated with streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Thirty male wistar rats were randomly distributed into six groups (n = 5). Group 1: (Distilled water only); Group 2: 80 mg/kgbwt streptozotocin; Group 3: (80 mg/kgbwt streptozotocin + 200 mg/kgbwt T. catappa leave extract); Group 4: (80 mg/kgbwt streptozotocin + 200 mg/kgbwt Persea americana seed extract); Group 5: (80 mg/kgbwt streptozotocin + 200 mg/kgbwt extracts-mixture); Group 6: (80 mg/kgbwt streptozotocin + 5 mg/kgbwt glibenclamide (standard drug). Streptozotocin was administered intraperitoneally, and glibenclamide orally. Blood sample was collected for biochemical analyses, and kidney for histopathology. Extracts of the T. catappa leaves and P. americana seed contributed significantly (p < 0.05) in bringing the levels of serum creatinine and urea; activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) to normalcy. Both plant extracts equally produced significant (p < 0.05) regeneration of kidney cells.