title: Carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity in rats: protective role of Digera muricata.
abstract: Digera muricata is used in renal disorders in folk medicine. Generation of reactive radicals has been implicated in carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity, which are involved in lipid peroxidation, accumulation of dysfunctional proteins, leading to injuries in kidneys. The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Digera muricata on the kidney function in CCl(4)-induced injuries. CCl(4) treatment (5 ml/kg body wt., i.p. CCl(4):olive oil; 1:9) significantly increased the level of urine creatinine, protein, nitrite, urobilinogen, red blood cells (RBCs), leucocytes count, and levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Level of proteins and DNA fragmentation %, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) count in renal tissues was also significantly increased. Activity of antioxidant enzymes; catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione (GSH) were decreased while thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) were increased with CCl(4) treatment. DNA ladder assay was intimately related with the DNA fragmentation assay. Telomerase activity was determined in the CCl(4)-treated renal tissue homogenate. Treatment with n-hexane (HDMP) and methanolic (MDMP) extracts of Digera muricata (200 and 250 mg/kg body wt., oral, respectively) effectively attenuated the alterations in the biochemical markers, telomerase activity was inhibited and confirms the restoration of normalcy and accredits the protective role of Digera muricata against CCl(4)-induced nephrotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 4400, Pakistan. mrkhanqau@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Muhammad R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Wajiha
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.forename: Gul N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Rahmat A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaheen
mesh_terms: D027703:Amaranthaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009573:Nitrites / Q000652:urine; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism; D014558:Urobilinogen / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D009573:Nitrites; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; C501911:antioxidant biofactor AOB; C051963:nucleolar organizer region associated proteins; D014558:Urobilinogen; D003404:Creatinine; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D019098:Telomerase