ABSTRACT
AIM:To study the protective effect of aqueous extract of 2-branched and 3-branched velvet antler on cisplatin (CDDP)-induced nephrotoxicity in mice .METHODS:The mouse model of renal injury was induced by intra-gastric administration of CDDP at the dose of 15 mg/kg.After treatment, kidney index (KI), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the content of malondialdehyde ( MDA) in the kidney were determined .The renal pathological changes were observed with HE staining.RESULTS:Aqueous extract of velvet antler at the tested dose markedly decreased BUN , SCr and the content of MDA, and elevated the activity of SOD and GSH-Px in the mice pretreated with CDDP ( P<0.05) .The pathological chan-ges of the renal tissues were improved obviously , and the injury of the epithelial cells of renal tubules was mitigated .The effect of the aqueous extract of 2-branched velvet antler on renal function and cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity was better than that of 3-branched one at the same concentration .CONCLUSION: The aqueous extract of 2-branched and 3-branched velvet antler has a certain protective effect on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity , which may be associated with in-creasing the anti-oxidative capability of mouse renal tissue .