NEPHRO-PROTECTIVE ROLE OF MORIN AGAINST EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is known as one of the most difficult types of diabetic complications to treat. DN is associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation due to hyperglycemia resulting in oxidative damages to renal tissues. The present study was designed to evaluate the possible nephro-protective effects of morin, a potent antioxidant, on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. Morin treatment (15 and 30 mg/kg/day) was continued to diabetic rats by gavage for five consecutive weeks. Serum creatinine and uric acid levels were estimated. Furthermore, renal levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total glutathione (T-GSH), non-protein sulphydral (NP-SH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, nucleic acids and total protein were estimated. Histopathological changes were also observed in kidney sections. Elevated serum creatinine and uric acid levels were significantly attenuated in diabetic rats by morin. In renal tissue, morin significantly ameliorated the elevated TBARS levels as well as the reduced levels and activities of nucleic acids, T-GSH, NP-SH and CAT in diabetic rats. These results are validated by histopathological investigations. Present results clearly demonstrate the nephro-protective effects of morin to be mediated through attenuation of oxidative stress and suggest it as a potential drug for the prevention of DN.