RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the nephroprotective and antioxidant properties of Triphala against bromobenzene-induced nephrotoxicity in female Wistar albino rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Animals were divided into five groups of six rats and treated as follows: Group I was a normal control and received no treatment, Group II received only bromobenzene (10 mmol/kg), Groups III and IV received bromobenzene and Triphala (250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively), Group V received Triphala alone (500 mg/kg), and Group VI received bromobenzene and silymarin (100 mg/kg). Antioxidant status and serum kidney functional markers were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Bromobenzene treatment resulted in significant (P< 0.05) decreases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase as well as total reduced glutathione. There was a significant (P< 0.05) increase in lipid peroxidation in kidney tissue homogenates. There were significant (P< 0.05) reductions in the levels of serum total protein and albumin as well as significant (P< 0.05) increases in serum creatinine, urea and uric acid. The oral administration of two different doses (250 and 500 mg/kg) of Triphala in bromobenzene-treated rats normalized the tested parameters. The histopathological examinations of kidney sections of the experimental rats support the biochemical observations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Triphala treatment alleviated the nephrotoxic effects of bromobenzene by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and reducing the levels of lipid peroxidation and kidney functional markers.</p>