Abstract

The focus of current research study was to evaluate the influence of the seed extract of Citrullus lanatus on urea, creatinine, potassium, sodium, chloride and bicarbonate in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Eighteen male wistar albino rats were divided into six groups of three rats each, diabetes were induced in all the rats except group 1 by intra-peritoneal injection of 45 mg/kg b.wt. of streptozotocin. Group 1 rats served ascontrol and received standard feed and water daily; Group 2 rats received oral Glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg bw); Group 3,4, and 5 received 200 mg/kg bw, 400 mg/kg bw and 600 mg/kg b.wt. of the ethanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus seed respectively; and group 6 served as diabetic group. Blood samples were collected and analysed for urea, creatinine, potassium, sodium, chloride and bicarbonate using urease-Berthelot colorimetric method, Jaffe’s colorimetric method and Ion selective electrode (ISE) method respectively. There was a significant decrease in (p<0.05) glucose concentration (mmol/L) of  3.90 in control compared to 8.07, 8.73, 14.67, 11.43 and 9.80 in albino rats treated with glibenclamide, STZ+CLS 200 mg, STZ+CLS 400 mg, STZ+CLS 600 mg and diabetic control respectively. In potassium concentration  (meq/l)  6.51 in control compared with 4.97, 7.59, 7.28, 8.45 and 6.87 in albino rats treated with glibenclamide, STZ+CLS200 mg, STZ+CLS 400 mg, STZ+CLS 600 mg and diabetic control respectively. While in sodium concentration (meq/l)  of 1.42 in control  compared to  1.33, 1.30, 1.36, 1.42 and 1.36 in albino rats treated with glibenclamide, STZ+CLS 200 mg, STZ+CLS 400 mg, STZ+CLS 600 mg and diabetic control respectively. However, in chloride concentration (meq/l)  of 1.06 in control  compared to 99.10, 97.87, 1.04, 88.00, 1.04, 88.00 and 1.04 in albino rats treated with glibenclamide, STZ+CLS 200 mg, STZ+CLS 400 mg, STZ+CLS 600 mg and diabetic control respectively and also in bicarbonate concentration (meq/l) of 10.07 when compared with 17.30, 16.47, 15.40, 6.40 and 17.30 in albino rats treated with glibenclamide, STZ+CLS 200 mg, STZ+CLS 400 mg, STZ+CLS 600 mg and diabetic control respectively. In conclusion, this medicinal plant could be considered as a potential and alternative approach for the treatment of diabetes.

 Keywords:Keywords:Citrullus lanatus, Diabetes Mellitus, Renal