Assessment of the renal protection and hepatotoxicity of rhubarb extract in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Rhubarb is well used to treat chronic renal failure (CRF) in China and Japan, but recent studies reported that the anthraquinone derivatives contained in rhubarb had nephrotoxicity. In this investigation an attempt was made to assess the value and toxic potential of rhubarb to treat CRF.


METHODS
Histopathologic and biochemical tests combined with toxicokinetic analysis were performed to investigate the nephrotoxic potential and protective effect of rhubarb extract.


RESULTS
In normal rat groups, no death was observed and no renal lesion was found after repetitive administration of rhubarb for 3 weeks. The survival rate, pathologic conditions and biochemical indexes of CRF rats treated with rhubarb at two dosages were all improved and significant amelioration was found in the low dosage group compared to the untreated CRF group. Rhein was the mainly absorbable anthraquinone derivative into systemic circulation after oral administration and the area under curve of rhein in CRF groups was lower than that in normal groups at same dosage.


CONCLUSIONS
After 3 weeks of administration of rhubarb extract, there was evidence of protective effect to CRF rats, while incidences of hepatotoxicity with minimal to mild hyaline droplets were also observed in normal rats.
China Military Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, PR China.
Jiabo
J
Wang
Yanling
Y
Zhao
Xiaohe
X
Xiao
Huifang
H
Li
Haiping
H
Zhao
Ping
P
Zhang
Cheng
C
Jin
D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006818:Hyalin / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012250:Rheum / Q000737:chemistry*; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D000880:Anthraquinones; D001798:Blood Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D003404:Creatinine; D000637:Transaminases; D002118:Calcium; C020491:rhein