Role of Senna, Cassia angustifolia and Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare in Ameliorating Nephropathy in Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most challenging metabolic pandemics that affect essential biochemical pathways in the body. The cost of Diabetes mellitus treatment and its side effects may call for an investigation on plant products as sources of treatment. Whereas, traditional medicine has proven that treatment with plant extracts is affordable, effective, and may have fewer negative effects than modern medicines. The current study aimed to investigate the renoprotective effects of senna (Cassia angustifolia) and fennel (Feoniculum vulgar) against streptozotocin-induced diabetes in albino rats. Male albino rats were used as animal models which divided into five groups, normal group (control), diabetic group (single i.p. 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin, (STZ), and 3 diabetic groups that were treated with aqueous extract of (senna (150mg/kg/day), or fennel (150mg/kg/day) and their combination) by gastric intubation for 4 weeks. Diabetic rats exhibited a highly significant increase in the levels of blood glucose, renal enzymes and renal weight. Also, a significant increase in nitric oxide (NO), thiobarbituricacid reactive substances (TBARS) and xanthine oxidase (XO) accompanied by a significant decrease in vitamin C, catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in renal tissues as compared to control group. In conclusion oral administration of senna and/or fennel extract reduces oxidative stress in renal tissue by lowering blood glucose levels, increasing plasma insulin, and restoring weight loss and levels of renal enzymes in diabetic rats. The present investigation suggested that the treatment with mix of (senna and fennel) exhibited antidiabetic activity, and had renoprotective effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats.