Nephroprotective Effect of the Leaf Extract of Ajuga remota Benth Against Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Swiss Albino Mice

Abstract

Background

Drug-induced kidney injury was among the most common renal damages, from which gentamicin occupies around 25% of this injury. Gentamicin-induced renal damage is caused by increased free radicals with subsequent amplified inflammation. Ajuga remota leaf extract has many phytochemicals with antioxidant activities, which may improve gentamicin-induced renal damage. Thus, we aimed to investigate the nephroprotective effect of Ajuga remota leaf methanolic extract on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in Swiss Albino Mice.

Methods

An experimental study design was used on 30 experimental mice randomly allocated in six groups: Group I, II, II, IV, and VI, among which mice were given only distilled water, only gentamicin, 600 mg/kg Ajuga remota leaf extract only, gentamicin along with 200 mg/kg extract, gentamicin with 400 mg/kg extract and gentamicin with 600 mg/kg extract, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed after being anaesthetized, and blood samples were collected through a cardiac puncture for renal function tests while the kidneys were removed for histopathological evaluation. The data were entered into Epidata version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for further analysis using one-way analysis of variance. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Group II mice had significantly higher levels of serum creatinine and blood urea levels compared to group I and III. The body weight of the mice in group V and group VI showed a significant increase compared with Group II. Serum creatinine and blood urea levels were reduced significantly in the Ajuga remota leaf extract administered group of mice compared to group II. Abnormal kidney architectural changes were seen among group II mice; however, those changes were improved after administration of Ajuga remota leaf methanolic extract.

Conclusion

Methanol extract of Ajuga remota leaf provided effective protection against gentamicin-induced oxidative renal damage through its antioxidant effects.

Keywords:

• Ajuga remota Benth
• gentamicin
• nephrotoxicity
• methanol

Abbreviations

ACEI, angiotensin-converting enzyme I, AKI; Acute kidney disease; CKD, chronic kidney disease; IP, intraperitoneal; MEAR, methanol extract of ajuga remota; TIDRC, Tropical Infectious Disease Research Center.

Data Sharing Statements

The corresponding author can be contacted to get all the necessary data that support the finding of this study.

Ethical Approval

This study was conducted after obtaining a letter of ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Board of Jimma University with reference number of IHRPG1/9/21. All experimental activities were conducted following the ethical declaration of national and international standards for experimental animals to protect their rights of experimental animals with treating the animals to avoid pain, suffering, injury, hunger, and thirst.^47,76,77

Acknowledgments

We want to be very grateful to the Biochemistry unit and Organic and Inorganic Chemistry Postgraduate Laboratory of Jimma University for providing their laboratory space to us as well as the data collectors at Jimma University and Tropical and Infectious Disease Research Center for their unreserved contributions.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest for this work

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this study.