Present study was planned to investigate the ameliorative effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on acetaminophen-induced nephrotoxicity. Our results demonstrate that therapy of AgNPs at three different doses (50, 100 and 150 μg/kg once only) prevented the acetaminophen (2 g/kg once only) induced acute renal toxicity. AgNPs treated animals also show less intensity in the histological alterations in kidneys and corroborating the results of analysis of serum urea and creatinine. In addition, AgNPs therapy prevented the acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress, which was confirmed by the alleviated lipid peroxidation, enhanced renal reduced glutathione content and restored enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and adenosine triphosphatase in kidney. Thus, our results demonstrate a possible protective potential of AgNPs on renal toxicity induced by acetaminophen. This study will definitely lead to the development of therapeutic drug against nephrotoxicity, after further clinical and preclinical studies.

No abstract

Acrylamide is a well-known neurotoxicant and carcinogen. Apart from industrial exposure, acrylamide is also found in different food products. The present study deals with in vivo experiment to test the protective effect of rutin against acrylamide induced toxicity in rats. The study was carried out on female rats with exposure of acrylamide at the dose of 38.27 mg/kg body weight, orally for 10 days followed by the therapy of rutin (05, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg orally), for three consecutive days. All animals were sacrificed after 24 h of last treatment and various biochemical parameters in blood and tissue were investigated. Histopathology of liver, kidney and brain was also done. On administration of acrylamide for 10 days, neurotoxicity was observed in terms of decreased acetylcholinesterase activity and oxidative stress was observed in terms of increased lipid peroxidation, declined level of reduced glutathione, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) in liver, kidney and brain. Acrylamide exposure increased the activities of serum transaminases, lipid profile, bilirubin, urea, uric acid and creatinine in serum indicating damage. Our experimental results conclude that rutin showed remarkable protection against oxidative DNA damage induced by acrylamide, which may be due to its antioxidant potential.

Drug-induced nephrotoxicity is a common problem in clinical medicine and the frequency of drug-related acute and chronic kidney dysfunction worldwide. One of them is anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs that cause renal function impairment during TB treatment. Medicinal plants contain bioactive compounds that are capable for treating drug or toxin-induced renal disorders. The aim of the present study was to assess the protective effect of the ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa seeds (NS) against anti-TB drugs (ATDs) induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. Rats were treated with ATDs for 12weeks (3 alternative days in a week). Supplementation with 125mg NS/kg, p.o. was administered to the experimental rats for 12weeks (3 alternative days in a week considering next day of ATDs treatment). The results demonstrated that NS treatment protected against renal damage induced by ATDs, as evidenced by the reduction in serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, urea nitrogen levels, pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α and IL-6), whereas improvement in histological tubular and glomerular damage. In addition, NS enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and decreased the lipid peroxidation and glutathione level in the kidney. In conclusion, NS could reduce chronic nephritis in ATDs treated group through suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress. It suggests that NS can be used as supplementary preventive and protective drug against kidney injury during anti-TB treatment.

Background: Tephrosia purpurea (TP), commonly known as wild indigo, is traditionally used in treatment of splenomegaly. It is an important ingredient of various Ayurvedic medicines used in treatment of liver diseases. Objectives: Thus, the study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective efficacy of ethanolic extract of TP against Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) induced liver injury. Materials and Methods: The ethanolic extract of TP was prepared by Soxhlet extraction method. Presence of polyphenols and antioxidant potential were assessed. The antiproliferative activity of extract was tested on HepG2 cells using MTT assay. For in vivo studies female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups with 6 animals in each. The entire regime was of 33 days. AFB1 was administered at 200 µg/kg dose and TP was administered at three different doses (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg). 24 hr after last treatment the animals were euthanised and liver and blood samples were collected. Results: 45.77± 2.53 µg/ ml IC 50 of extract was seen on HepG2 cells. A significant elevation in serum transaminases, triglycerides (TG) and LPO was seen after AFB1 intoxication. Whereas decline in activities of GSH, SOD, CAT, G6Pase and ATPase were observed. Treatment with different doses of TP restored its activities towards normal indices. Maximum recovery was seen with 300 mg/kg dose of TP. Conclusion: It may be concluded that TP possess hepatoprotective efficacy against AFB1 induced oxidative injury and it may prove to be of clinical use after further studies.