Impart free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity
Impart free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity and other pharmacological or noxious agents [16,17]. Experimental data suggest that renoprotective A-836339 web effects of plant extracts or chemicals are mainly attributed through antioxidant/scavenging of free PubMed ID:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26509685 radicals, metal chelation and stabilizing the membranous system [11]. Sonchus asper grows wild in fields and also in wastelands in Pakistan. This plant is locally utilized in renal disorders [18]. Marked renoprotective effects of methanol extract of Sonchus asper against carbon tetrachloride induced injuries are reported in our previous studies [19]. Similarly methanolic extract of Sonchus asper is found beneficial in decreasing the oxidative stressinduced with potassium bromated in cardiovascular system of rat [20]. Chemical characterization of Sonchus asper revealed the presence of polyphenolics such as rutin, quercetin, catechin and myricetin [21,22]. Since liver and kidneys are involved in the metabolism and excretion of xenobiotics, these may be more prone to various pathological conditions. The inability of conventional medicine to minimize the gentamicin induced oxidative damage has contributed for the use of complementary medicine. However, no studies have been performed on the antioxidant potential of Sonchus asper against the oxidative stress caused by gentamicin. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate whether the methanolic extract of Sonchus asper ameliorates the hepatorenal toxicity induced with gentamicin in rat model.MethodsPreparation of plant extractWhole plant (leaves, stem, flowers, seeds and roots) of Sonchus asper at maturity was collected from District Rawalpindi and after identification a specimen was submitted at herbarium of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Pakistan. Shade dried powdered (2 kg) was extracted twice with methanol for three days. The methanolic solution was filtered and dried in rotary evaporator to get the crude methanol extract of Sonchus asper (SAME).Acute toxicity studiesAcute oral toxicity studies were carried out on 150-200 g body weight of Sprague-Dawley male rats according to defined doses (5, 50, 300, 2000 mg/kg bw) to the overnight fasted rats but water was provided ad libitum. The onset and sign of toxicity were noted for each dose for three days. Since the dose of 2000 mg/kg bw did not induce any sign of toxicity, it was selected for the preventive effects against the gentamicin treatment to rats [23].Animals and experimental protocols30 Sprague-Dawley male rats (160-200 g) were acquired from National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad. Animals were kept at the Primate Facility maintained at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad in ordinary cages for two weeks at room temperature of 25 ?3 with a 12 h dark/light cycle for acclimatization. Animals had free access to food and water ad libitum. The experimental protocol and procedures used in this study were approved by the Ethics committee of the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan for the care and use of laboratory animals. Dose of gentamicin was given as described previously [24]. Rats were divided into five groups (n = 06 rats per group) with the following protocols:Khan et al. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2011, 11:113 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/11/Page 3 ofGroup I: animals received saline (0.5 ml/kg bw; 0.9 NaCl) orally Group II: gentamicin (0.5 ml) administered at a dose of 200 mg/kg bw.