Abstract
Hexachlorobutadien is nephrotoxic agent in rodents. The mechanism of toxicity includes
generation of free radicals, depletion of thiol groups and production of toxic metabolites.
Antioxidant compounds may reduce HCBD-nephrotoxicity. In this research we investigated
the effect of Rheum turkeatanicum extract against HCBD-toxicity. The animals were
divided to 4 groups which were including control (saline, 1 mL/kg), HCBD (100 mg/kg)
and treatment groups which received extract at doses 100 and 200 mg/kg. The extract
were administered as intraperitoneally (i.p.) 1 h before HCBD injection (i.p.). The
animals were anesthetized by ether, 24 h after HCBD administration. The results showed
elevation of serum creatinine, serum urea, urinary protein, urinary glucose, malondialdehyde
levels in kidney and reduction of thiol in kidney by HCBD. The histopathological studies
showed that there was apoptosis and necrosis in HCBD treated groups. Administration
of R.turkestanicum reduced HCBD toxicity. The extract reduced hitopathological changes
in kidney. It may be concluded that the nephroprotective effect of extract may be
due to different mechanisms such as antioxidant activity or by decreasing the toxic
metabolites of HCBD or inhibition of enzymes which are involved in the bioactivation
of HCBD such as glutathione-S-transferase (GST) or cysteine-S-conjugate β-lyase.
Key words
rheum turkestanicum - hexachlorobutadien - renal toxicity - oxidative stress - malondialdehide
