Ameliorative effects of Mentha aquatica on diabetic and nephroprotective potential activities in STZ-induced renal injury

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia which causes secondary pathophysiological changes in multiple organ systems. Clinically used oralhypoglycemic agents are associated with a lot of side effects and high cost of treatment. As per ethnobotanical relevance, traditional medicines and natural products offer a valuable alternative to the oralhypoglycemic drugs. This study was hypothesized to evaluate the antidiabetic and nephroprotective activities of Mentha aquatica in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ at a dosage of 40 mg/kg bw. At the end of the study, overnight-fasted rats were dissected, and the blood and kidney samples were analyzed for biochemical and histopathological analysis. Oral administration of aqueous extract of leaves of Mentha aquatica (AELMA) at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw/day for 90 days significantly decreased the level of fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, TC, TG, plasma urea, creatinine, urine albumin, and kidney lipid peroxidation and increased the body weight, insulin, HDL cholesterol, plasma albumin, urinary urea, urinary creatinine, and antioxidant enzyme activities. The present study demonstrates that aqueous extract leaves of Mentha aquatica exert significant antidiabetic activity by stimulating secretion of insulin and nephroprotective potential activity by reducing the lipid peroxidation and enhancing the scavenging ability of antioxidant defense system in the body.