Methanol leaf extract of Momordica charantia protects alloxan-induced nephropathy through modulation of BCL2/ NF-κB signalling pathways in rats

Nephropathy is one of the major complications of diabetes with oxidative stress as one of the possible mechanisms mediating the event. Natural products with antioxidant property may be a promising therapeutic approach to ameliorate renal damage from diabetic nephropathy hence the renoprotective activity of methanolic leaf extract of Momordica charantia (MEMC) was assessed.

 The effects of MEMC on alloxan-induced nephrotoxicity were examined where toxicity was induced by intraperitoneal administration of alloxan to 50 rats divided into five groups of 10 rats each. MEMC was administered to two groups at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg for 28 days; glibenclamide administered to another group of diabetic rats. While another group was left untreated, a group of normal rats received only distilled water. Nephroprotective effect of the extract was studied by assessing its effect on oxidative stress markers, antioxidant defence system, immunohistochemistry, histological and serum urea and creatinine analysis.

 Alloxan administration altered renal biomarkers (increased serum urea and creatinine levels), increased renal H2O2 malondialdehyde levels, and decreased reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Histological studies showed glomerular degeneration and hypercellularity. However, administration of glibenclamide (4 mg/kg) and MEMC ameliorated the alloxan-induced nephrotoxicity. Immunohistochemical studies revealed lower expressions of BCL2 but greater expressions of NF-κB in the kidney of the toxicant non-treated rats compared with the control, glibenclamide treated and MEMC treated rats.

MEMC showed renoprotective activity in alloxan-induced nephropathy mediated through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This extract could be used in the treatment of acute kidney failure.