Effect of Acalypha wilkesiana on Oxidative Stress and Histopathology of Liver and Kidney in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Albino Rats

This study investigated the effect of Acalypha wilkesiana on oxidative stress biomarkers as well as liver and kidney histopathology. 54 Albino rats were divided into 6 groups of 9 animals each including group 1 animals received only feed and water ad libitum; group 2 received 160mg/kg alloxan by the intraperitoneal route; group 3 received 0.07mg/kg of glibenclamide follow alloxan induction, while animals in groups 4, 5 and six received the aqueous leaf extract of Acalypha wilkesiana at doses of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg following the induction. Three animals from each group were anaesthetized with diethyl ether and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture on days 5, 10 and 15 into sample bottles containing anticoagulant for evaluation of oxidative stress parameters. Liver and Kidney samples were also collected from these animals and transferred into 10% formalin solution for the histological studies. Results revealed a significant increase in oxidative stress marked by decrease in oxidative stress markers such as CAT, SOD, GSH, GPx and increase in MDA values and pathological changes of liver and kidney following alloxan administration when compared with normal control. These changes were reversed by the extract in a dose dependent manner.