Project Abstract

Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and associated with various complications, including renal dysfunction. Momordica charantia (MC) is a plant with known antidiabetic properties, and its leaves have been traditionally used for the management of diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different fractions of MC leaves on serum electrolytes and renal function indices in alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats. Albino rats were induced with diabetes using alloxan and were divided into six groups normal control, diabetic control, glibenclamide (standard drug) treated, and MC leaf fractions treated at three different doses. The MC leaf fractions were prepared using different solvents to obtain hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol fractions. The rats were treated with the respective fractions for a period of 28 days. The results showed that diabetic rats treated with MC leaf fractions exhibited a significant reduction in blood glucose levels compared to the diabetic control group. Additionally, the serum electrolyte levels, including sodium, potassium, and chloride, were significantly restored towards normal values in the rats treated with MC leaf fractions. Furthermore, the renal function indices such as serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels were improved in the MC leaf fractions treated groups compared to the diabetic control group. Histopathological examination of the kidney tissues revealed a reduction in glomerular hypertrophy, tubular necrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the rats treated with MC leaf fractions compared to the diabetic control group. The improvement in renal function indices and histopathological changes indicated a potential renoprotective effect of MC leaf fractions in diabetic rats. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that Momordica charantia leaf fractions have a beneficial effect on serum electrolytes and renal function indices in alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for the observed effects and to explore the potential of MC leaf fractions as a therapeutic agent for diabetic nephropathy.

Project Overview

Diabetes affects one hundred and thirty five million people in one year worldwide (King et.al., 1999) and this figure is projected to rise to three hundred million in 2025 ((King et. al.,1998). It is obvious that diabetes, a chronic non communicable disease, continues to have a tremendous impact on society in terms of the quality of life and straining health care resources. The costs incurred in managing or preventing it are enormous, both in Kenya and throughout the world. The disease causes substantial morbidity, mortality and long-term complications and remains a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In Africa, this disease continues to impact on the poverty levels of the people.

Diabetes mellitus is a systemic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose due to absolute oxidative stress may cause tissue to be more susceptible to oxidative damage and progression of disease in renal glomerolus (Brownlee, 2001; Yao et al., 2009).Histopathological evaluations on the diabetic kidney show expansion of mesangial matrix and uniform thickening of basement membranes in glomerulus and tubules (Ziyadeh and Wolf, 2008).

Since ancient times, plants have been a worthy source of medicine, which not only control hyperglycemia at low dosages but can also be taken for longer periods in contrast to synthetic hyperglycemic drugs (Grover et al., 2002). One of these plants is Momordica charantia (MC), also known as karalla, or bitter melon, which belongs to the cucurbitaceafamily, grows in tropical areas, including parts of the Amazon, east Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, and is cultivated throughout South America as a food and medicine (Grover and Yadav, 2004).

The Momordica charantia (bitter melon) is a widely used plant in the traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). It has been shown that Momordica charantia (Mc) has hypoglycemic effects on animals and humans, however, we don´t know if this effect is present in a chronic time and if the plant extract (stem and leaves) participates in the antihyperglycemic effect.

The Momordica charantia (MC) contains anti-hyperglycemic chemicals include glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, fixed oils, triterpenes, proteins and steroids (Murakami et al., 2001; Erden et al., 2010). These chemicals are concentrated in fruits of the Momordica charantia (MC), therefore fruit of the MC has shown more pronounced anti-hyperglycemic activity (Grover and Yadav, 2004). Presence of antioxidants in the fruits and vegetables such as vitamin C, E, carotenoids, lycopenes and flavonoids are also important in prevent free radical injury (Semiz and Sen, 2007). Total flavonoid and phenol contents ofMomordica charantia (MC) extract were analyzed and revealed that MC extract possess potent diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (Wu and Ng, 2008). Several studies have reported the anti-diabetic effects of MC on renal functional and histological changes in alloxan albino rats but only limited data is available on the anti-diabetic effects of MC on renal functional and histological changes in rats. 1.1. Aim

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Momordica charantia leaf fractions on some serum electrolytes and renal biomarkers in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

1.1.0 Specific objectives

i.   To obtain fractions of Mormodica charantia leaf modified multi solvent serial extraction

ii.   To evaluate the effect of Mormodica charantialeaf fractions on serum electrolytes and   other renal function indices in alloxan induced diabetic albino rats.