Protective effect of aqueous suspension of dried latex of Calotropis procera against oxidative stress and renal damage in diabetic rats

Calotropis species have been used in the traditional medicinal system for the treatment ofdiseases of the liver and abdomen. In view of the antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic properties of an aqueous suspension obtained from the dried latex of Calotropis procera, the present study was carried out toevaluate its efficacy in affording protection against alloxan induced changes in rat kidney. A single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg) in rats produced hyperglycemia within 3 days and altered kidneyfunctions over a period of 90 days. Daily oral administration of the aqueous suspension (100 and 400 mg/kg)in diabetic rats produced anti-hyperglycemic effect that was comparable to that of glibenclamide (10 mg/kg).Unlike glibenclamide, the aqueous suspension did not increase the serum insulin levels in diabetic rats. However, it produced a marked reduction in the levels of urinary glucose and protein and normalized the renaltissue levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and glutathione (GSH) in diabetic rats andthe effect was comparable to that of glibenclamide. The protection afforded by the aqueous suspension wasalso evident from the histological analysis of the renal tissue. Our study shows that by exhibiting antioxidantand anti-hyperglycemic property the aqueous suspension of dried latex of C. procera affords protection againstthe complications associated with diabetes.