Abstract

Background and objectives: Diabetes is the most common metabolic disorder with severe effects on quality of life. Decreasing serum glucose levels and normalization of kidney parameters is of great clinical importance for treating diabetes. Urtica dioica L. has been used in as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fungal, and antibacterial agent. To our knowledge, there are little evidences about the anti-diabetic and nephroprotective actions of U. dioica L. The present study was carried out to assess the anti-diabetic and nephroprotective activities of U. dioica aqueous extract (UDAE) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic mice for 20 days. Methods: Male mice were divided into six groups: normal control, untreated diabetic, diabetic mice receiving 30, 90 and 270 mg/kg of plant extract (groups UDAE30, UDAE90 and UDAE270, respectively) or 30 mg/kg glibenclamide. At 20th day, the mice killed, dissected, then blood and kidney samples were collected for biochemical and histological parameters analysis. Results: Biochemically, U. dioica aqueous extract at all doses and glibenclamide could significantly (p<0.05) reduce the raised levels of blood glucose, urea and creatinine when compared to the untreated group. Histologically, different doses of U. dioica aqueous extract (especially UDAE270) and glibenclamide could significantly (p<0.05) decrease the volume and length of the renal structures as compared to the untreated group. Conclusion: These results indicated U. dioica aqueous extract could improve diabetic related metabolic derangement such as hyperglycemia and elevated kidney markers.