Determination of nephroprotective activity of Sansevieria roxburghiana Schult. & Schult.f. (Agavaceae) methanolic crude extract in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar albino rats

Nephrotoxicity is one of the most common kidney problems and occurs when the bodyis exposed to drugs or toxin that causes damage to the kidneys. This study was undertaken to determine the potential for nephroprotective effect of the crude methanolic extract of Sansevieria roxburghiana (MESR). Gentamicin was used to induce nephrotoxicity due to its ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the kidney which then causes oxidative damage leading to renal toxicity. Ascorbic acid (200 mg/kg BW) was used as standard drug acting as an antioxidant. The study was conducted on twenty-five (25) eight-week old male Wistar albino rats weighing 150-250 grams equally grouped into five. The gentamicin-induced rats were treated with MESR 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally once a day for eight days. At the end of the protocol, blood urea nitrogen test, serum creatinine analyses and histopathological examination of the kidneys were performed. Gentamicin at a dose of 100 mg/kg BW caused marked nephrotoxicity when injected for 8 consecutive days, showing significant (p<0.05) increase in the levels of blood urea nitrogen (65.2940 + 2.2213 mg/dL) and serum creatinine (0.8780 + 0.0166 mg/dL) as compared to normal control animals (13.8980+0.7776 and 0.2440+0.0264 respectively). The MESR treated groups showed evident nephroprotective effect as seen in the reduction of BUN and serum creatinine levels when compared to gentamicin administered rats. The results showed that the lower dose of MESR (250 mg/kg body weight) significantly reduced the levels of serum creatinine (0.3200 + 0.0176) and blood urea nitrogen (14.0060 + 0.9325) to near normal control levels and is comparable to the group given ascorbic acid, 0.3140 + 0.0087 and 16.6840 + 1.1245, respectively. It was noted that MESR250 exhibited the highest activity in the reduction of BUN and serum creatinine levels among the treatment groups. The present study provides scientific evidence that the methanolic extract of S. roxburghiana 250 mg/kg BW has nephroprotective effects and is beneficial in decreasing elevated BUN and serum creatinine. Histological analysis of the kidney point out that the extract reduced the damage as compared to the gentamicin group. The findings of the study proves that the MESR has a nephroprotective potential.

Keywords: gentamicin, kidney, nephroprotective, reactive oxygen species, Sansevie riaroxburghiana