Protective effects of Carissa opaca fruits against CCl4-induced oxidative kidney lipid peroxidation and trauma in rat.
BACKGROUND
Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a potent nephrotoxin, as it causes acute as well as chronic toxicity in kidneys. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the pharmacological potential of different fractions of Carissa opaca fruits on CCl4-induced oxidative trauma in the kidney.


METHODS
The parameters studied in this respect were the kidney function tests viz, serum profile, urine profile, genotoxicity, characteristic morphological findings, and antioxidant enzymatic level of kidneys.


RESULTS
The protective effects of various fractions of C. opaca fruits against CCl4 administration were reviewed by rat renal function alterations. Chronic toxicity caused by 8-week treatment of CCl4 to the rats significantly decreased the pH level, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and glutathione contents, whereas a significant increase was found in the case of specific gravity, red blood cells, white blood cells, level of urea, and lipid peroxidation in comparison to control group. Administration of various fractions of C. opaca fruit with CCl4 showed protective ability against CCl4 intoxication by restoring the urine profile, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and lipid peroxidation in rat. CCl4 induction in rats also caused DNA fragmentation and glomerular atrophy by means of dilation, disappearance of Bowmen's space, congestion in the capillary loops, dilation in renal tubules, and foamy look of epithelial cells of tubular region, which were restored by co-admiration of various fractions of C. opaca.


CONCLUSIONS
Results revealed that the methanolic fractions of C. opaca are the most potent and helpful in kidney trauma.
Botanical Sciences Division, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Sumaira
S
Sahreen
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Muhammad Rashid
MR
Khan
Department of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Bannu, Pakistan; Rahmatgul_81@yahoo.com.
Rahmat Ali
RA
Khan
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Huda Mohammad
HM
Alkreathy
Carissa opaca fruits; DNA fragmentation; genotoxicity; lipid peroxidation; oxidative trauma