title: Effects of Gum Arabic in rats with adenine-induced chronic renal failure.
abstract: Gum Arabic (GA [Acacia senegal]) is reputed, in Arabian medicinal practices, to be useful in treating patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), albeit without strong scientific evidence. We have previously shown that GA had no significant effect in rats with CRF induced by surgical nephrectomy. Here, we used another animal model of human CRF (feeding adenine at a concentration of 0.75%(w/w) for four weeks) to test the effect of GA on CRF. Renal morphology and measurements of plasma concentrations of urea and creatinine (Cr), and Cr clearance, in addition to urinary volume, osmolarity and protein concentrations, and N-acetylglucosamine and lactate dehydrogenase activities were performed. Interleukin-6 and the total antioxidant levels in urine, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase in renal tissues, were estimated. Adenine feeding resulted in marked renal damage. GA (6%(w/v) and 12%(w/v) in drinking water for four consecutive weeks) significantly ameliorated the adverse biochemical alterations indicative of renal failure, abated the decrease in body weight and reduced the glomerular, tubular and interstitial lesions induced by adenine. Our study provides evidence that GA attenuated renal dysfunction in this model of CRF, suggesting a promising potential for it in protecting against renal failure progression. The mechanism(s) of this nephroprotection is uncertain but may involve anti-oxidant and/or anti-inflammatory actions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Badreldin H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Suhail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Salam
authors.forename: Isehaq
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al Husseni
authors.forename: Rana R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kayed
authors.forename: Noura
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Masroori
authors.forename: Thuriya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Al-Harthi
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Zaabi
authors.forename: Abderrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nemmar
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D006170:Gum Arabic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D006170:Gum Arabic; D000225:Adenine