Stereological and biochemical studies of kidney in diabetic mice treated with ethanolic extract of Urtica dioica L.: Introducing an anti-diabetic and nephroprotective agent

Urtica dioica L. is widely used as an anti‑inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hypocholesterolemic, antiulcer, anti‑colitis, anticancer, hypotensive, immunomodulatory, and hepatoprotective agent. In the present study, the antidiabetic and nephroprotective potentials of U. dioica ethanolic extract was investigated against streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic mice. Male mice were divided into six groups: normal control, untreated diabetic, diabetic mice receiving 30, 90 and 270 mg/kg of plant extract (groups UD30, UD90 and UD270, respectively) or 30 mg/kg glibenclamide. At 20th day, the mice killed, dissected, then blood and kidney samples were collected for histological and biochemical parameters analysis. The data was analyzed by one way variance analysis and Duncan’s test using SPSS 21. Different doses of U. dioica (especially UD270) could significantly (p≤0.05) reduce the raised levels of blood glucose, urea, creatinine and volumes and lengths of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules, collecting ducts, vessels and loop of Henle and increase the weight of body and levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) when compared to the untreated group. The results of the present study showed that under the present experimental conditions, ethanolic extract of U. dioica indicated antidiabetic and nephroprotective abilities against STZ induced kidney damage in mice.