Nephroprotective effect of anethum graveolens in a murine model of gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity

Background: Antioxidant rich herbs possess significant activity against various disease conditions induced by oxidative stress. Anethum graveolens is a rich source of bioactive compounds that possess varying pharmacological activities including antioxidant. Objective: To evaluate the nephroprotective effect of aqueous extract of Anethum graveolens seeds in a murine model of gentamicin induced renal damage. Materials and Methods: Wistar albino rats of either sex, weighing 150-200g were divided into 5 groups; normal saline, gentamicin (80 mg/kg, i.p), aqueous extract of Anethum graveolens seeds at 0.5, 1 and 2g/kg/ body wt., p.o, for 8 days, the extract being administered 3 days prior and concurrently with gentamicin for 5 days. Serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) analyses and histopathological examination of kidney were performed. Results: Gentamicin treatment caused nephrotoxicity as evidenced by marked elevation in Serum urea, creatinine, uric acid and BUN (107.5±16.92 mg/dl, 0.88±0.09 mg/dl,3.05±0.29 mg/dl and 47.80±9.07 mg/dl respectively) as compared to saline treated animals. Co-administration of aqueous extract of Anethum graveolens at doses 0.5, 1 and 2g/kg/ body wt decreased the rise in these parameters in a dose dependent manner. However statistical significance was obtained only with 1 and 2g/kg body wt doses employed, when compared to the gentamicin treated group. Histopathological analysis revealed epithelial loss with intense granular degeneration in gentamicin treated rats, whereas the test extract mitigated the severity of gentamicin induced renal damage. Conclusion: Our data suggests that aqueous extract of Anethum graveolens seeds exhibits renoprotective effect in gentamicin induced renal damage probably due to its antioxidant actions.