Preliminary research of radix phytolaccae decoction on the renal injury in rats / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore characteristics and mechanism of renal injury caused by giving Radix Phytolaccae (RP) decoction in rats. METHODS: Rats were divided into three groups normal control, high and low dose of RP groups which were administrated respectively with pure water or equal volume of RP at the doses of 20, 10 g·kg-1 daily by gavage for consecutive 49 d, and observed continually for 7 d after drug withdrawal. Blood sample was collected at different time points. The contents of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CR) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. The body and tissue weight were both weighed. The rations of every tissue weight to body weight were counted, respectively. HE, PAS or Masson stain were used in the slices of kidney samples at each treatment time point, and the renal histopathological changes were observed under light microscopy. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) and the contents of malon dialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) in kidney samples were measured with Kits. RESULTS: Compared with those in the control group, BUN in low dose group was significantly increased on day 49, BUN in high dose group was significantly increased on day 21, CR in low and high dose group were both significantly increased on day 35, with a time-dose-effect relationship. The renal histopathological change was characterized by renal tubular epithelial cell degeneration, necrosis, shedding, tubulointerstitial fibrosis and protein cast. Compared with those in the control group, the activity of GSH-px, and the ratio of SOD/MDA in the kidney were significantly decreased in high dose group, the tissue content of NO was increased, indicating that there was an increase of peroxide and lipid peroxidation in kidney. CONCLUSION: The renal injury caused by giving high dose of RP decoction in rats in a long period of time may be related to oxidative stress reaction.