Nephroprotective Potential of Alstonia scholaris in Cisplatin Induced Nephrotoxicity in Experimental Animals

The present investigation was aimed to determine the alterations in antioxidant, biochemical and histopathological parameters in cisplatin (cDDP) induced nephrotoxicity and its protection by treatments with aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Alstonia scholaris . Acute nephrotoxicity was induced by single intra-peritoneal administration of cDDP (12 mg kg −1 ) in wistar rats. Nephrotoxic rats were treated with quercetin (50 mg kg −1 ), aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts (300 mg kg −1 ) by oral gavage. Cisplatin treatment elevated ( P < 0.05) the levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index, malondialdehyde (MDA) but lowered ( P < 0.05) total plasma proteins, total antioxidant status, total thiols, blood glutathione (GSH) levels and antioxidant enzymes as compared to control. Administrations with ethanolic leaf extract following cDDP exposure restored ( P > 0.05) creatinine, albumin, TOS, GSH and activities of antioxidant enzymes in blood and renal tissue. Leaf extracts administration also reduced ( P < 0.05) erythrocyte and renal MDA levels following cDDP treatment. The restorations of various antioxidant and renal parameters were also supported by the histopathological findings of renal tissue. Administrations with ethanolic leaf extract have high potential to minimize cDDP induced renal damage as indicated by restoration of biochemical, antioxidant and histopathological alterations in nephrotoxic rats as compared to aqueous extract of A. scholaris .