The Possible protective effects of Physalis peruviana on carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats

Physalis peruviana (physalis) has long held a place in folk medicine in the tropical countries where it grows. Here, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential nephroprotective impact of physalis extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced kidney injury and to explore the possible mechanisms by which this plant exerts its beneficial effects. Rats were randomly divided into equal four groups, eight rats each. I. Control Group: served as Control group. II. Physalis group: rats were treated with Physalis extract in drinking water at a dose of 150 mg/kg b.wt. III. CCl4 group: rats were treated with CCl4 at a dose of 2 mL/Kg b.wt. and IV. CCl4 and physalis group: rats were treated with Physalis extract in drinking water and CCl4 at the previous doses for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and used for determination of kidney function, namely; uric acid, urea and creatinine, while the kidney tissues were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin and Bcl-2 immunostaining examination. Evaluation of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH) were conducted and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were carried out. Animals treated with CCl4 exhibited significant elevations in kidney function, MDA, NO and exhibited significant decrease in the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, GST and GSH contents. The combination (both physalis and CCl4) group has preserved the kidney histology, kidney function near to control, exhibited a significant induction in the activities of CAT, SOD and GST, increased the kidney content of GSH and Bcl-2 and conversely showed significant decrease in kidney MDA and NO levels compared to CCl4-treated rats. Physalis confers an appealing nephroprotective effect which might be explained partially via diminishing the generation of MDA and NO, induction of antioxidant systems and Bcl-2. [Ahmed E. Abdel Moneim and Kamal M. El-Deib The protective effects of Physalis peruviana on carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats. Life Sci J 2012; 9(3):1038-1052]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com.146