title: Nephroprotective effect of Croton zambesicus root extract against gentimicin-induced kidney injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the kidney protective effect of ethanolic root extract of Croton zambesicus (C. zambesicus) against gentimicin-induced kidney injury in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The root extract (27-81 mg/kg) was administered to rats for eight days with concurrent administration of gentimicin (100 mg/kg) daily for the same period of time. Protective effect of the extract was evaluated in serum levels of creatinine, urea, and uric acid as well as some ions like sodium, potassium and chloride. Histological examination of the kidneys from different treatment groups were also carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of the root extract significantly reduced histopathological changes in the kidneys of the extract-treated rats especially in the rats treated with lower doses of the extract (27 and 54 mg/kg). The levels of serum urea and creatinine were also reduced significantly (P<0.01) at these doses with no observable effect on the levels of uric acid and ions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The kidney - protective activity of this extract could be due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities.
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Nigeria. judeefiom@yahoo.com
authors: Jude E
authors: JE
authors: Okokon
authors: Paul A
authors: PA
authors: Nwafor
authors: Kufre
authors: K
authors: Noah
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D029802:Croton; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005839:Gentamicins; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D002712:Chlorides; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005839:Gentamicins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014527:Uric Acid; D014508:Urea; D012964:Sodium; D003404:Creatinine; D011188:Potassium