Methanolic extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius attenuates renal dysfunction induced by chronic ethanol administration in Wistar rats.

AIMS The present work studied the modulatory role of methanolic extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf (MECA) in rat model of renal dysfunction induced by chronic ethanol administration. METHODS Forty-two male Wistar albino rats weighing between 170 and 180 g were distributed into seven groups of six animals each. Some groups were pretreated with MECA (100 and 200 mg/kg) or kolaviron (KV) (200 mg/kg) for 2 weeks before simultaneous administration of MECA or KV and 20% ethanol (7.9 g/kg) for eight consecutive weeks. Others were given ethanol or MECA (200 mg/kg) or KV alone, and the control received corn oil (Vehicle). KV served as the standard antioxidant. RESULTS In ethanol-treated rats, serum urea, creatinine, urinary glucose, gamma-glutamyltransferase and protein increased by 59, 81, 70, 148 and 63%, respectively, while creatinine clearance significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by 79%. MECA significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated the above biochemical indices to near normal. Also, the levels of serum and kidney malondialdehyde (MDA) (Index of lipid peroxidation) increased by 102 and 143%, respectively, in ethanol-treated rats. Ethanol intoxication caused a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in kidney of the rats. MECA attenuated the ethanol-induced increases in serum and kidney MDA, and also enhanced the antioxidant status of the rats by increasing the levels of CAT, SOD and GSH. The activity of MECA was comparable with KV at 200 mg/kg. The biochemical findings were corroborated by histopathological examination of the kidney. CONCLUSION The results suggest that the renal protective effect of C. aconitifolius leaf extract is by attenuating oxidative stress induced by chronic ethanol administration.