Antioxidant and Nephroprotective Activities of Aconitum heterophyllum Root in Glycerol Induced Acute Renal Failure in Rats

Abstract

Aim: The present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and nephroprotective activities of ethanolic extract of Aconitum heterophyllum root (EEAHR) in glycerol induced acute renal failure (ARF) in Wistar albino rats.

Materials and methods: In vitro antioxidant activity of EEAHR was assessed using the 2, 2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH assay), nitric oxide radical scavenging (NO assay), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 assay) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) scavenging activity assays. In vivo study, rats were divided into four groups of six each for assessing the nephroprotective activity. Group-1 received normal saline, group-2 received 50% glycerol (10 ml/kg) alone, group-3 received glycerol and 250 mg/kg of EEAHR and group-4 received glycerol and 500 mg/kg of EEAHR. The renal injury and recovery was measured by serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total proteins, albumin, urine output and histopathological changes.

Results: In vitro antioxidant activity of root extract was found to be equal to Vitamin C and in an in vivo study root extract treated animals showed significant attenuation of biochemical parameters and histopathological changes of the kidney compared to glycerol treated group and it was found to be more significant with the extract at 500 mg/kg than 250mg/kg.

Conclusion: The present study revealed that Aconitum heterophyllum root has shown antioxidant and nephroprotective activities.

Keywords: Aconitum heterophyllum root; Acute renal failure; Antioxidant activity; Glycerol; Nephroprotective.

[Table/Fig-1]:

DPPH Assay.

[Table/Fig-2]:

NO Assay.

[Table/Fig-3]:

FRAP Assay.

[Table/Fig-4]:

H₂O₂ Assay.

[Table/Fig-5-9]:

Showing the nephroprotective activity fo Aconitum heterophyllum root, among the four groups.

[Table/Fig-10]:

All figures are in 10x magnification. In group -1 the arrows have shown normal features and group-2 the arrows have shown abnormal features. Group-1 (control):- Kidney was showing normal and well defined Glomeruli (G) with an Intact Bowman’s Capsule (IBC), Proximal and Distal convoluted tubules (PCT, DCT)) and Intistitium (I). Group-2 (Glycerol):- It was showing severe hemorrhagic, hyaline casts, capillary congestion, interstitial damage, apical blebbing and damaged proximal and distal convoluted tubules Group-3 (Glycerol + 250 mg/kg of extract):- The kidney damage was found to be less than the glycerol treated group Group-4 (Glycerol + 500 mg/kg of extract):- The kidney damage was far less compared with 250 mg/kg of extract.