Protective effects of Monotheca buxifolia fruit on renal toxicity induced by CCl₄ in rats

Oxidative stress is believed to be a root cause of various degenerative and fibrotic disorders. Dietary foods enrich in antioxidants can cure or curtail the progression of oxidative stress induced disorders. Fruit of Monotheca buxifolia is used locally for digestive and urinary tract disorders. We have evaluated the protective potential of the methanol extract of M. buxifolia (MBM) in rat exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) toxicity.

Powder of the dried fruit of M. buxifolia was extracted twice with 95 % methanol to get the extract (MBM). Presence of polyphenolic constituents was detected by HPLC-DAD (High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection) analysis. Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided in to six groups with six rats in each. Animals of Group I were kept control, while rats of Group II – Group V were treated intraperitoneally with 1 ml/kg body weight (bw) of CCl₄ (30 % v/v; olive oil) 15 dosages in 30 days. Animals of Group III were orally administered silymarin (50 mg/kg bw) while Group IV and V with 200 and 400 mg/kg of MBM on next day of CCl₄ treatment. Rats of Group VI were administered only with 400 mg/kg bw of MBM. Biochemical markers of the urine and serum were analyzed. Level of antioxidant enzymes, DNA damages lipid peroxides (TBARS), H₂O₂ and nitrite was assessed in renal tissues of rat. Histopathological changes in renal tissues of rat were also recorded.

HPLC-DAD analysis of MBM indicated the existence of gallic acid, catechin, caffeic acid and rutin. MBM administration significantly alleviated the toxic effect of CCl₄ in rat and decreased the elevated level of RBCs, pus and epithelial cells, specific gravity, creatinine, urobilinogen, urea and albumin while increased the pH and urinary protein. Increase in the level of urobilinogen, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urea and total bilirubin while decrease of albumin and total protein in serum was restored by the administration of MBM to CCl₄ fed rat. Administration of MBM to CCl₄ exposed rats significantly increased the activity level of phase I and phase II enzymes and GSH while decreased the level of TBARS, H₂O₂, nitrite and DNA damages in renal tissues of rat. Furthermore, histopathological alterations induced with CCl₄ in renal tissues of rat were also diminished with the administration of MBM.

Restoration of various parameters induced with toxic insult of CCl₄ in rat suggests the antioxidant and repairing potential of M. buxifolia fruit in kidney disorders.