RESUMO
To investigate antidiabetic effects of Tetracarpidium conophorum seed (TECOSE) against biomarkers of diabetes-induced nephropathy in rats. Methods: Powdered seed (500 g) of TECOSE was extracted with 5 L of 100％ methanol for 72 h followed by concentration of filtrate.Diabetes was induced in rats with 75 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneal streptozotocin. The rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=5 in each group) namely group A- normal control,group B- diabetic control, groups C, D and E were diabetic rats treated with 500 mg/kg body weight TECOSE orally, 7 mg/kg body weight metformin orally and subcutaneous 0.3 IU/kg body weight HumulinR, respectively. All rats were treated once daily for 2 weeks. Blood samples and urine were collected for biochemical estimations. Kidney was harvested for histomorphological studies. Results: TECOSE (500 mg/kg body weight) significantly (P<0.05) reduced blood sugar levels as effective as metformin and insulin. The plant extract also significantly (P<0.05) reduced levels of serum urea, creatinine and uric acid, proteinuria, ketonuria, hematuria and glycosuria while it significantly (P<0.05) increased glomerular filtration rate. Histomorphological study of the kidney of untreated diabetic rats showed features suggestive of glomerulosclerosis and tubular necrosis while that of treatments with TECOSE extract, metformin and insulin showed near normal histoarchitectures. Conclusions: Streptozotocin at 75 mg/kg body weight induces diabetic nephropathy in rats and TECOSE possesses potentials to prevent diabetic renal damage.