Histological Evaluation of Ethanoic Extract of Watermelon Seed on the kidney of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Wistar Rat
Okafor I. J & Elemuo C. O
Department of Anatomy
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Uli, Anambra State
Corresponding Author: Okafor I. J
ABSTRACT
The effect of ethanoic extract of watermelon seed was studied in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, lifelong condition that affects the body’s ability to use energy found in food. This led to the study of its effect on the kidney. Twenty adult female wistar rats 150g to 250g were assigned to four groups (A, B, C, and D) consisting of five rat each. Group A was the negative group induced with diabetes with no treatment. Group B was the high dose induced with diabetes and was given 0.8ml of the extract. Group C was the low dose induced with diabetes and was given a low dose of extract 0.3ml. Group D is the control fed with food and water. Alloxan was injected at three dose interval; the blood sample was collected to determine the glucose level in all the experimental groups. At three days interval blood was collected from the different group to determine their glucose level. At the end of the fifth week the animals were sacrificed. The kidney were collected and processed for histological studies using H and E technique. Biochemical result of this study revealed increase in urea and creatinine level in the negative group, there is no significant different across the group P< 0.5. Histological result interstitial congestion in the negative group, with unremarkable glomeruli in the group treated with watermelon extract. In conclusion, these results showed that citrullus lanatus has hypoglycaemic properties and can therefore be employed in the treatment of diabetics.
Keyword: Citrullus lanatus, Alloxan, Diabetes, Kidney
