The Effects of Origanum Majorana on Oxidative Stress and Histopathology of Renal Tissue among Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background: Diabetes type 1 has a variety of destructive effects on different parts of the body including kidney tissue. Diabetic nephropathy is among the serious complications of diabetes. Oxidative stress plays a central role in the development of diabetic nephropathy with glomeruli dilation. Objectives: Due to the known anti-oxidant and anti-diabetic effects of Origanum majorana (OM), this study was conducted to survey its effects on oxidative stress and histopathology of renal tissue among diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental investigation, 32 male rats, weighing 200 - 250 g, were divided into four groups: 1: control, 2: control receiving treatment with OM, 3: diabetic, and 4: diabetic receiving treatment with OM. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Groups under treatment received food containing 6.25% of OM. Tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured to evaluate the oxidative stress. In addition, renal histopathology was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Results: A significant increase in the renal tissue level of MDA was observed in diabetic and OM-treated diabetic groups versus control group (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively). OM treatment non-significantly reduced the tissue level of MDA (P = 0.11). Also, diabetes caused a significant increase in glomerular size compared to the control group (P = 0.03), and treatment of diabetic rats with OM caused a non-significant decrease in glomerular size compared to the diabetic group (P = 0.17). Conclusion: Taken together, long term treatment of diabetic rats with OM can partially protect the renal tissue via attenuation of oxidative stress and glomerular expansion.