Indian Research Journal of Pharmacy and Science, A J Al Khatib Sept’14 URTICA PILULIFERA MAY BE AN ALTERNATIVE FOR METFORMIN IN PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE Ahed J AlKhatib Jordan University of Science and Technology ABSTRACT: There is a debate about the possibility of adjusting or discontinuing metformin treatment among patients with impaired kidney function attributed to lactic acidosis. U. pilulifera is an alternative with potential therapeutic options. The main objectives of the present study are to investigate the effects of both the extract of U. pilulifera and metformin in reducing some kidney parameters and the second objective is to raise the issue about the necessity of giving more concern to herbal treatment and to go more advanced steps towards formulating these herbal treatments. The methodology included collecting U. pilulifera and preparing its extract, induction of diabetic model using alloxan and biochemical testing of urea, uric acid and creatinine. Fifty Wistar rats were randomly assigned into the following groups: Group I: control group; Group II: diabetic group; Group III: diabetic treated with 1.25 mg/kg of body weight U. pilulifera; Group IV: diabetic treated with 1.88 mg/kg of body weight U. pilulifera; Group V: diabetic group treated with 14.2 mg/kg metformin. Study findings showed that kidney function parameters under study, urea, uric acid and creatinine were significantly increased in diabetic group. On the other hand, treatment using either metformin or U. pilulifera was able to decrease significantly study parameters to levels approximate to that in control group. Taken together, the present study showed that both metformin and U. pilulifera were successfully able to restore kidney parameters urea, uric acid and creatinine in diabetic group to almost levels of control group. KEYWORDS: Diabetes, Lactic acidosis, Metformin, U. pilulifera, Kidney function test, Uric acid, Creatinine. Corresponding Author: Ahed J AlKhatib E-mail: ajalkhatib@just.edu.jo Submitted on: 20.07.2014 Revised On: 28.07.2014 Accepted on: 18.08.2014 Indian Research Journal of Pharmacy and Science; 2(2014) 79-85; Journal home page: https://www.irjps.in Original Research