RESUMO
Vernonia amygdalina is documented to have beneficial effects in diabetes mellitus. Renal complications are often associated with diabetes mellitus. This study was carried out to investigate qualitatively the cytoprotective effect of aqueous extract of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina on the kidney cells of alloxan induced diabetic rats. A total of thirty-two rats weighing average 200 g were used. They were divided into four groups of eight rats each. Group A was normal control group and was given distilled water and food. Group B was the diabetic control group and was given 32.1 mg/kg body weight of alloxan for three days to induce diabetes. Group C was treated with the above quantity of alloxan then administered with 40 mg/kg body weight of the leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina for ten days twice daily. Group D was given the extract for ten days followed by the administration of the above quantity of alloxan for three days. Following sacrifice the kidney was removed and fixed in 10% buffered formalin. The kidney was routinely processed using heamatoxylin and eosin staining methods. Results obtained showed that the kidney of rats treated with alloxan alone showed cellular degeneration while the groups given extract showed regeneration and restoration of normal histology of renal cells and tissues. We conclude that the extract of Vernonia amygdalina has a cytoproteetive effect against renal cellular damage in diabetic rats