Abstract

Falcaria vulgaris has been used in medicine as an antimicrobial agent. The aims of this study were to evaluate the hypoglycemic and nephroprotective activities of the aqueous extract of F. vulgaris in diabetic mice. Diabetes was experimentally induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The mice were divided randomly into 6 groups as follows: nondiabetic, untreated diabetic, a group that received orally 0.5 mg/kg glibenclamide, and three groups that were given orally 200, 600 and 1800 mu g/kg of F. vulgaris, respectively, for 20 days. On the 20th day, the mice were dissected, and blood and kidney samples were collected for analysis of hematological, biochemical and stereological parameters. F. vulgaris at all doses, particularly 1800 mu g/kg, significantly (p <= 0.05) reduced the levels of urea, creatinine, WBC, eosinophils, basophiles, platelet and increased RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, lymphocytes and monocytes that were raised after diabetes induction, compared to the untreated diabetic group. Multiple doses of F. vulgaris, particularly1800 mu g/kg, significantly (p <= 0.05) decreased the total volumes of the kidney cortex, medulla, vessels and renal tubules, as well as the lengths of the vessels and renal tubules, compared to the untreated diabetic group. Also, F. vulgaris at all doses significantly prevented glomerular hypertrophy and reduction of glomeruli numbers in comparison with the untreated diabetic group. In conclusion, F. vulgaris possesses antidiabetic, hematoprotective and nephroprotective properties and can improve renal structural and blood biomarkers in STZ-induced nephrotoxicity in mice.