Histopathological Investigation of the Effects of Methanol Extract of Justicia Carnea Leaves on the Pancreas, Liver and Kidney of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

Introduction/Aim: Diabetes manifests as a condition of persistent hyperglycemia and poses considerable risks of complications in various organ systems. This study investigated the histopathological impact on the pancreas, liver, and kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats and the role of methanol leave extract of Justicia carnea in the amelioration of the damages inflicted on the referenced organs. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six (36) male Wistar rats weighing 180 to 200 g (mean weight = 190 ± 10 g) were divided into six (6) groups of six (6) rats each. Group 1 served as the normal control and received only water and grower’s pellet throughout, group 2 was induced with diabetes but untreated, group 3 animals were induced with diabetes and treated with 50 mg/kg bw of metformin), groups 4, 5 and 6 were induced with diabetes and treated with 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg bw of methanol extract of Justicia carnea leaves respectively. Diabetes mellitus was induced in the rats by intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg bw of streptozotocin (STZ). After 21 days of the treatment, the animals were sacrificed and the pancreas, liver and kidney were harvested and processed for histopathological screening. Results: The results obtained showed severe vascular ulceration, congestion and periportal infiltrates of inflammatory cells in the liver of the diabetic rats. However, treatment with Justicia carnea leave extract resulted in the restoration to near normal hepatocytes, portal vein and bile ducts. In the kidney of the diabetic rats, there was interstitial congestion, glomerular shrinkage and tubular necrosis which became normal after treatment. The Pancreas of diabetic rats showed evidence of degenerating islets, vascular congestion and stenosis but the conditions were ameliorated after treatment with the methanol extract of Justicia carnea leaves. Conclusion: Justicia carnea methanol leave extract ameliorated the histopathological lesions on the pancreas, liver and kidney of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Therefore, we are proposing the methanol extract of Justicia carnea leave as a potential candidate for antidiabetic drug or a candidate for adjuvant drug with other antidiabetic drugs.