Garlic (Allium sativum) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) attenuate structural nephropathy progression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Introduction; Diabetic nephropathy is a consequence of the detrimental effects of biochemical abnormalities spearheaded by hyperglycemia. The consensus is that euglycemia is central in restraining diabetic nephropathy. Objective; This study investigated the hypoglycemic effect of garlic and ginger on the nephropathological structural occurrences in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats. Method; Diabetic Sprague‐Dawley rats (serum glucose = SG > 350 mg/dl one week post‐STZ) received a daily dose (i.p. 500 mg/Kg) of raw aqueous extracts of garlic (D‐GC, n=10) or ginger (D‐GR, n=10) for seven week. Seventh week SG and 24 h urine protein clearance (PC) were determined; then, the left kidney was processed for light microscopy examination and digital images (DI) acquision. Normal rats (N, n=10) and non‐treated (control) diabetic (D) rats (n=10) acted as reference. Result; D rats showed a rise of 330 and 185% in SG and PC, respectively (p<0.05). In response to herbal treatments, D‐GC and D‐GR SG and PC were less by 45 and 50%, respectively (p<0.05). DI of control D kidneys showed signature histopathological modulations including capsular space shrinkage, glomerular hypertrophy and diffusion, glomerular and microvascular hyalinization, and cytoplasm fragmentation and retraction. In D‐GC and D‐GR kidneys, these structural changes although evident were less prominent. Conclusion; The extent of diabetic nephropathological structural changes is concurrent to the level of hyperglycemia. Garlic and ginger hypoglycemic effects seems to attenuate the progression of diabetic structural nephropathy. This work was supported by Kuwait University.

Antidiabetic, antilipidemic, and antioxidant activities ofGouania longipetalamethanol leaf extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

“…Several phytochemical constituents including flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, and others obtained from various plant sources have been reported to be potent hypoglycemic agents (Al-Quattan et al, 2008). From the phytochemical analysis of G. longipetala, it was found to contain most of these constituents.…”

Effect of Garlic and Aged Black Garlic on Hyperglycemia and Dyslipidemia in Animal Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…The administration of 80% ethanol extract of garlic at dose of 0.5 g/kg decreased serum glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats (8). Injection of garlic extract attenuated hypoglycemia and structural nephropathy progression in STZ-induced diabetic rats (9). It was reported that consumption of diet containing 5% garlic powder showed hypolipidemic effect in rats (13).…”

“…Evidence from several investigations has shown that garlic has antibacterial (5,6), anticarcinogenic (7), antidiabetic (8,9), antioxidant (10), and hypolipidemic effects (11,12). The administration of 80% ethanol extract of garlic at dose of 0.5 g/kg decreased serum glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats (8).…”

Diabetic nephropathy and antioxidants

“…There are reports that glomerular hypertrophy inhibited through consumption of herbal antioxidants extract such as garlic, ginger (22) and ginkgo biloba (23) in diabetic animals. In addition, glomerular hypertrophy inhibited by antioxidants such as Vit E and alpha tochopherol in diabetic rats (24)(25).…”