EFFECT OF ALOIN ADDED TO METFORMIN ON RENAL FOAM CELLS IN AN AGED, OBESE MOUSE MODEL OF TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is associated with chronic hyperglycemia, obesity, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress, which contribute to renal lipid accumulation, inflammation, and foam-cell formation. Aloin, a bioactive compound from Aloe vera, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may enhance the renoprotective effects of metformin. Objective: To evaluate the effect of adding aloin to metformin on renal foam-cell occurrence and renal histopathological changes in an aged, obese mouse model of T2DM. Methods: A laboratory experimental study with a post-test-only control-group design was conducted using 32 aged, obese male mice with T2DM. Mice were randomly assigned to receive metformin (250 mg/kg body weight/day) or metformin plus aloin (750 μg/kg body weight/day) for 28 days. Kidney tissues were examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and differences in renal foam-cell occurrence were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: Renal foam cells were observed in 68.8% of mice receiving metformin and 18.8% of those receiving metformin plus aloin, representing a significant reduction (p = 0.004). The combination therapy also showed better-preserved glomerular and tubular architecture and fewer inflammatory cell infiltrates. Conclusion: The addition of aloin to metformin was associated with a significantly lower occurrence of renal foam cells and better-preserved renal histological architecture. These findings suggest that aloin may serve as a potential adjunct to metformin for attenuating diabetes-associated renal histopathological changes.