Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ANTIOXIDANT POTENCY OF OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS L. MOENCH) PODS EXTRACT TO AMELIORATE KIDNEY STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN DIABETIC MICE

Saikhu Akhmad Husen, Dwi Winarni, Arif Nur Muhammad Ansori

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the ability of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) pods extract to reduce plasma blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine level, and also to ameliorate damaged renalproximal tubular of kidney in diabetic mice. In vivo, the antioxidant test was conducted by using male BALB/c mice. Mice were divided into two groups; normal control (KN) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Streptozotocin (STZ) induction was performed using multiple low-dose of 30 mg/kg BW injected for five consecutive days. Diabetic mice have separated again into three subgroups; diabetic control (KD), diabetic mice treated with acarbose (KA), and diabetic mice treated with fractionation of okra pods extract. Fractionation of pods extract treatment group was categorized based on given; crude extract (CU=100 mg/ kg BW), non polar extract (NP=20.04 mg/kg BW), semi-polar extract (SP= 27.39 mg/kg BW) and polar extract (PE=54.10 mg/kg BW). Before and after STZ injection, body weight and fasting blood glucose were measured. Bodyweight and fasting blood glucose were measured at 1st, 7th and 14th day of okra pods treatment. Okra pods extract was given per oral for 14 days. On 15th day, plasma BUN and creatinine levels were measured using Pentra C200 Reader. Interestingly, okra pods extract administration was found to be able to lower plasma BUN and creatinine, and ameliorate damaged renal proximal tubular of kidney in diabetic mice significantly.