Effect of Kalanchoe crenata Extract on Renal and Liver Impairment, Dyslipedemia and Glycemia in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus or diabetes is a metabolic ailment which occurs as a result of insulin insufficiency or defect in insulin function, or both that leads to ihyperglycemia. Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide disease even though its prevalence in other countries vary. Kalanchoe crenata belongs to the family crassulaceae. It is also known locally as miracle plant and often utilized in Africa for medicinal purposes. The study was designed to ascertain the antidiabetic and dyslipidemic activity and effects of the ethanolic extract of both leaves and stem of Kalanchoe crenata on istreptozotocin incite diabetic rats for three (3) weeks.

Methodology: 6-8 weeks old Sprague dawley rats received multiple injection of streptozotocin intraperitoneally (40mg/kg body weight) to induce diabetes melitus. Diabetes mellitus was observed and confirmed after six days of induction. The rats were given ethanolic extract of Kalanchoe crenata remarkably (10, 30 and 100mg/kg) and 5mg/kg glibenclamide orally twice daily for three weeks. Blood glucose, lipids, creatinine, urea, were then determined.

Results: After week three of treatment 5mg/kg glibenclamide, 30 and 100mg/kg ethanolic extract of Kalanchoe crenata remarkably (p<0.05) decrease glycemia and improved lipidemia by decreasing overall cholesterol, LDL-C and increasing HDL-C likened to the control diabetic group. Also results from treated rats remarkably decrease blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. However, the affirmative control and the sampled treated groups showed curative and regenerative effect in the cells responsible for producing endocrine insulin “beta cells of the islets of Langerhans” located in the pancreas. Kidney and liver tissue sections of treatment groups showed a reversal of diseased insults made by the streptozotocin.

Conclusion: The outcome of the research indicate that given ethanolic extract of Kalanchoe crenata remarkably contains the necessary phytochemicals for the development of a standard and effective herbal medicine for Diabetes mellitus and related complications and also with no toxic effects on the tissues of the liver, pancreas and kidney.