Background
The major draw-back of doxorubicin's use in chemotherapy is its toxicity on various organs including the kidneys. This study investigated the potential protective role of aqueous leaf-extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Tridax procumbens against nephrotoxicity induced by doxorubicin.
Conclusions
Pre-treatment with the extracts and metformin boosted endogenous antioxidants, and prevented doxorubicin-induced renal damage, as indicated by the attenuation of doxorubicin-induced renal oxidative stress, as well as the attenuation of doxorubicin-induced adverse alterations in renal cholesterol, ATPases and electrolyte balance, and plasma biomarkers of kidney function, and keeping them at near-normal values.
Methods
To this end, their impact on plasma biomarkers of kidney function, as well as renal lipid profile, biomarkers of oxidative stress, electrolyte profile and activities of renal ATPases was monitored in doxorubicin treated rats. Metformin (250 mg/kg body weight, orally) and the extracts (50, 75 and 100 mg/kg, orally) were daily administered for 14 days; while nephrotoxicity was induced with doxorubicin (15 mg/kg, intra-peritioneally), once on the 12th day of study.
Results
The plasma concentrations of creatinine, and urea; as well as the renal malondialdehyde, cholesterol, calcium and sodium concentrations in the Test control, were significantly (P < .05) higher than those of all the other groups. However, the renal concentrations of ascorbic acid, chloride, magnesium and potassium, and the renal activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase superoxide dismutase, Ca2+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and Na+,K+-ATPase in the Test control were significantly (P < .05) lower than those of all the other groups. Conclusions: Pre-treatment with the extracts and metformin boosted endogenous antioxidants, and prevented doxorubicin-induced renal damage, as indicated by the attenuation of doxorubicin-induced renal oxidative stress, as well as the attenuation of doxorubicin-induced adverse alterations in renal cholesterol, ATPases and electrolyte balance, and plasma biomarkers of kidney function, and keeping them at near-normal values.