Hepato-Nephroprotective Effects of Gongronema latifolium and Ocimum gratissimum in Diabetic Rats Exposed to Carbon Tetrachloride

Abstract

Diabetes is a persisting and deadly disease which occur due to pancreatic dysfunction resulting in decrease or lack of insulin production. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of Gongronema latifolium (GL) and Ocimum gratissimum (OG) on liver and kidney functions of alloxan-induced diabetic rats exposed to 1.0 ml/kg/bw carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), intraperitonially. Forty-five (45) rats divided into 9 groups of 5 rats each were used. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were respectively normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC) and diabetic exposed to CCl4 (DCCl4) on the 14th day. Groups 4, 5 and 6 were diabetic treated with single GL (200 mg/kg), OG (200 ml/kg/bw) and combined GL and OG (100 ml/kg/bw) each, respectively. Groups 7, 8 and 9 were diabetic treated with single leaf GL (200 ml/kg) and exposed to 1.0ml/kg/bw of CCl4 on the 14th day, OG (200 mg/kg/bw) and exposed to 1.0ml/kg/bw of CCl4 on the 14th day and combined GL and OG (100 mg/kg/bw) each and exposed to 1.0ml/kg/bw of CCl4 on the 14th day, respectively. Treatment lasted for 14th days and 24 hours after, animals were sacrificed, blood and liver collected for analysis. Results showed significant (p < 0.05) elevations in AST, ALT, ALP, urea, creatinine, and blood glucose levels, along with decreased albumin levels in the DC and DCCl4 groups compared to NC. Conversely, treatments with GL, OG, and GLOG extracts mitigated these adverse effects, restoring biochemical parameters to near-normal levels. Combined extracts exhibited superior antioxidant and hepato-nephroprotective activities compared to single extracts. Conclusively, the extracts, singly and in combination mitigated the damaging effect of alloxan-induced diabetic rats exposed to CCl4 by exhibiting antioxidant and hepato-nephroprotective effects, evidently shown in the analyzed parameters and histopathological results.