HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF PORTULACA OLERACEA (WHOLE PLANT), FRUITS AND SEEDS OF ERIOBOTRYA JAPONICA ON KIDNEYS OF STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Sabeeha Shafi* and Nahida Tabassum

ABSTRACT

Background: The present study was undertaken for histopathological study of ethanolic extract of Portulaca oleracea (whole plant), fruits and seeds of Eriobotrya japonica on kidneys of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Methods: The phytochemical screening of the plant extracts was done. Initially nine groups of rats were taken and each group comprising of six animals were employed in present study. Different doses of plant extracts were administered during experiment. The first group was Normal Control group which received only the vehicle. The 2nd group was toxic group which included those animals in which diabetes was induced by streptozotocin. The 3rd group were those animals which received streptozotocin and standard antidiabetic drug-glibenclamide. 4th group was diabetic animals receiving 50 mg/kg b.w dose of plant extract of Portulaca oleracea. 5th group included those diabetic animals which received 100mg/kg b.w of the plant extract of Portulaca oleracea 6th group was diabetic animals receiving 50 mg/kg b.w dose of fruits of Eriobotrya japonica. 7th group included those diabetic animals which received 100mg/kg b.w of the fruit extract of Eriobotrya japonica 8th group was diabetic animals receiving 50 mg/kg b.w dose of seed extract of Eriobotrya japonica. 9th group included those diabetic animals which received 100mg/kg b.w of the seed extract of Eriobotrya japonica The biochemical parameters that were evaluated were blood glucose levels. At the end, the animals were sacrificed and histopathology of kidneys was also done. Results: The results showed significant decrease in blood glucose levels in animals treated with different doses of the plant extracts. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various bioactive components such as alkaloids, glycosides and flavonoids. Conclusion: It can be assumed that the potential pharmacological activity might be due to the presence of phytochemicals present in the seeds. The histopathology of kidneys also showed protective results.

Keywords: Portulaca oleracea (whole plant), Eriobotrya japonica fruits and seeds, glucose lowering, histopathology, kidneys.