the renal protective effects of corn silk and feijoa by using in situ rat renal system

background: corn silk (cs) is widely used in iranian traditional medicine and feijoa sellowiana(fs) is a native plant widespread in the southern parts of iran. the aim of the present study was to assess renal protective activities of cs and fs against dosage induced injury by ecstasy (mdma) using insitu rat renal perfusion (irrp) system.methods: hydro-alcoholic extract of cs and fs (10, 20, 40 and 100 mg/ kg) was studied for its renal protective activity by irrp system. the kidneys were perfused with kerbs-henseleit buffer, containing different concentration of hydro-alcoholic (ha) extract of cs and fs (10, 20, 40, 50,100mg/kg) for 2 hours. during the perfusion, urea, creatinine and glutathione (gsh) levels were assessed as indicators of renal viability. consequently, sections of renal tissues were examined for any histopathological changes. results: the results showed that histopathological changes in renal tissue were related to ha extract of cs and fs concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. gsh levels in samples perfused by ha extract of cs and fs increased compared to the positive control group (p<0.05). conclusion: renal protective effects of cs and fs are due to decreased lipid peroxidation, although other mechanisms may also be involved.