Abstract:
Background: A revival of interest in the use of medicinal plants as nephroprotective agents
has emerged worldwide recently as a source of new drug lead molecules targeting the
management of renal diseases. Many medicinal plants have been detailed in Sri Lankan
traditional medicinal pharmacopoeias, however a scientific scrutinization has not been
carried out for most of the plant species.
Objectives: To evaluate the nephroprotective activity of the leaf extract of Abelmoschus
moschatus (common name; Kapukinissa, Family; Malvaceae) and to determine its acute
toxic effects on adriamycin induced nephrotoxic rats and on healthy rats respectively.
Methodology: The nephroprotective activity of the lyophilized powder of the aqueous
refluxed (4 hr) leaf extract was investigated in adriamycin (20 mg/kg, ip) induced
nephrotoxic Wistar rats (n=6/group). The plant extract was orally administered at three
selected doses (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) for three consecutive days following the induction
of nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Fosinopril sodium (0.09 mg/kg) was used as the standard
drug. Nephroprotective activity was assessed by estimating selected biochemical parameters
and by assessment of histopathology. Acute toxicity studies of the aqueous plant extract
were carried out in healthy rats.
Results and conclusions: The plant extracts at the selected doses reduced the increase in
serum creatinine concentration by 23%, 40%, and 40% in nephrotoxic rats respectively. The
serum concentration of albumin (1%, 9% and 8%) and total protein (16%, 16% and 20%)
were increased significantly (p<0.05). The loss of urine total protein was decreased
significantly (51%, 55% and 83%) with the increased dose of A. moschatus in nephrotoxic
rats (p<0.05). Histopathological findings corraborated the biochemical results. Neither
mortality nor behavioural changes were observed in healthy rats. The results revealed that
the aqueous leaf extract of A. moschatus possesses significant dose dependent
nephroprotective activity in adriamycin induced nephrotoxic rats. Further the extract did not
show acute toxic effects in healthy Wistar rats.
