ELLAGIC ACID AMELIORATES THE PROGRESSION OF NEPHROPATHY IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the major micro vascular diabetic complication which results in the end stage renal disease requiring kidney dialysis or transplantation. The current study was designed to evaluate the nephro protective effect of ellagic acid in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by administration of streptozotocin (55mg/kg, i.p) to overnight fasted male Wistar rats. Ellagic acid (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) was administered orally by dissolving in 0.2% dimethyl sulfoxide every day for a period of 4 weeks. Invitro inhibition of advance glycation end products (AGE’s) was evaluated. Histopathology of kidney was done by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining. Diabetic rats showed significant elevation of fasting blood glucose, BUN, creatinine and significant decrease in the levels of albumin and total protein levels when compared to normal control rats. Moreover, renal tissue SOD, GSH and catalase were significantly decreased with increase in lipid peroxidation levels. Ellagic acid treatment significantly (P<0·01) counteracted all the altered biological parameters. Histopathological findings of kidney further supported the protective effect of ellagic acid administration. Ellagic acid shows renal protection in diabetic rats by its antihyperglycaemic, antioxidant, reducing nitro-oxidative stress and AGE inhibitory activity and thus can be a promising agent for prevention of diabetic nephropathy.