Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Advances in Traditional Medicine https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-020-00458-2 RESEARCH ARTICLE Protective efect of Basella alba leaf against diabetic nephropathy in rats Reshma Kumari 1  · Waquar Ahmed Goldar 1  · Subhodeep Mondal 1  · Susmita Patra 1  · Sanjib Bhattacharya 2  · Pallab Kanti Haldar 1 Received: 23 December 2019 / Accepted: 8 May 2020 © Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University 2020 Abstract Chronic hyperglycemic condition leads to development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Basella alba is an important edible vegetable in India. Present study was conducted to inquire the efects of methanol extract from Basella alba leaf (MEBA) against diabetic nephropathy in rats. A single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg) was given to Wistar albino rats to induce diabetes. After 4 weeks of diabetes induction, the rats were divided into normal control group, disease DN group, MEBA treatment groups (200 and 400 mg/kg), metformin treatment group (150 mg/kg) and the treatment was continued for next 3 weeks. In MEBA treated groups there were marked improvements in blood glucose, ALP, ALT, total pro- tein, serum lipid profle such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL levels and renal functions such as urine volume, urinary protein excretion, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine clearance as compared to non-treated DN group. There was signifcant rise in malonaldehyde level, and decline in acivites of superoxide dismutase and reduced Glutathione (GSH) of kidney in diabetic rats as compared to normal control group rats. The MEBA treated groups showed dose dependent resto- ration of altered oxidative stress parameters. Moreover, from renal histopathology it was evident that the abnormal thickening of Glomerular basement membrane in kidney of diabetic rats were improved in MEBA treated rats. From the present study it can be concluded that, Basella alba leaf has marked protective efect against diabetic nephropathy and proteinuria in rats. Keywords Basella alba · Diabetic nephropathy · Creatinine · Superoxide dismutase · Oxidative stress Introduction Approximately 35% of type 1 diabetic patients develops diabetic nephropathy (DN), which is one of the major microvascular complication. It is the leading end stage renal disease of chronic diabetes which is characterized by interminable albuminuria, rise in arterial blood pressure, decreased glomerular fltration rate (GFR), and a high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (Hovind et al. 2001). Chronic hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress plays major risk factor behind the initiation and progression of DN (Gross et al. 2005). The mechanisms contributing towards pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy include interaction between hyperglycaemia-induced metabolic and hemody- namic changes and genetic predisposition (Dronavalli et al. 2008). In addition, pathogenesis of DN also includes kidney hypertrophy and hyperfltration, increase in albumin excre- tion rate (AER) along with thickening of glomerular base- ment membrane, mesangial expansion, intertubular fbrosis and albuminuria in association with an increase in extracel- lular matrix (Raptis and Viberti 2001; Kanwar et al. 2008). Diabetic nephropathy can be managed by targeting multiple strategies such as strict control of blood glucose level and blood pressure by using antihypertensive agents. Since ancient times, plants have been used as a source of medicine and is an important and comparatively inex- pensive form of health care system. Medicinal plants and herbal drugs have benefciary efect as compared to modern medicines in terms of adverse drug reaction and cost factors (Bhattacharya 2017, 2019). Basella alba commonly known as Indian spinach, Malabar spinach in English and Pui-sak in Bengali is a perennial vine grown in tropical Asia and Africa and widely used as culinary vegetable. It is used by * Pallab Kanti Haldar pallab_haldar@redifmail.com 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal 700032, India 2 West Bengal Medical Services Corporation Ltd., GN 29, Sector V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata, West Bengal 700091, India