Effect of Artemesia scoparia Extract on Kidney Functions and some Antioxidants in Experimental Diabetic Rats

Abstract

One of the factors that cause severe metabolic imbalance and abnormal changes in many tissues, especially in the Kidney, is diabetes mellitus. Therefore, in this study, the therapeutic effects of Artemisia scoparia (A. scoparia) were investigated using a rat model in the control of diabetic infection. Diabetes was induced in the Wistar albino rats by injecting STZ at a dose of 45 mg/kg body. After a two-week acclimatization period, forty male rats were randomly divided into five groups of equal size (n = 8) for a six-week experiment; Group I: non-diabetic untreated rats that were gavaged daily with distilled water for 6 weeks, Group II: STZ-induced diabetic rats that were gavaged daily with distilled water for 6 weeks, Group III: diabetic rats that was injected subcutaneously with the insulin at a dose of 5 IU/kg body weight, Group IV: diabetic rats that were orally administered with the alcoholic extract of A. scoparia at a concentration of 70 mg/kg, Group V: diabetic rats that were orally administered with A. scoparia extract at a concentration of 70 mg/kg. Two hours later, they were injected with insulin subcutaneously at a concentration of 5 IU/kg. During 6 weeks, the levels of blood urea (BUN), creatinine, uric acid, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were estimated. Kidney samples were also collected for histopathological analysis. The findings indicated that STZ toxicity led to significantly high levels of BUN, creatinine, uric acid, and MDA, along with a significant reduction in SOD, CAT, and GPx. Additionally, STZ caused alterations in kidney histopathology, including kidney damage and tubular necrosis, compared to the diabetic control. However, treatment with A. scoparia significantly enhanced kidney histopathology, reduced the levels of BUN, creatinine, and MDA, and markedly increased the levels of SOD and GPx in the kidneys of STZ-treated rats. It can be concluded that the results of this study indicate that A. scoparia may serve as a natural herbal antioxidant remedy, demonstrating a renal therapeutic effect against STZ-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.