In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of Withania somnifera, an indigenous medicinal herb used in ayurvedic traditional systems for more than 3000 years in India, on gentamicin (GEN)-induced nephrotoxicity. The root extract of three different doses of W. somnifera (viz., 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg) was administered orally to rats for 14 days before GEN treatment and thereafter concurrently with GEN (100 mg/kg) for 8 days. Nephrotoxicity was evident in GEN-treated rats by significant increase in kidney weight, urea, creatinine, urinary protein, and glucose, and significant reduction in body weights and potassium, which was histopathologically confirmed by tubular necrosis. In contrast W. somnifera (500 mg/kg) significantly reversed these changes as evidenced microscopically when compared to other two doses of W. somnifera (250 and 750 mg/kg), and there were no significant changes in the levels of sodium in the experimental animals compared to control. Thus, our results suggested the nephroprotective effect of Withania somnifera, which could be by enhancing antioxidant activity with natural antioxidants and scavenging the free radicals.

We investigated the protective effect of Withania somnifera root powder (used in ayurvedic medicine in India) on gentamicin (GEN) induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats. The root powder was administered orally to rats for 14 days before GEN treatment and thereafter with GEN for 8 days. Nephrotoxicity was manifested in GEN-treated rats as significant increases in urea, creatinine, uric acid, non protein nitrogen, urinary protein, N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydroperoxides, followed by a significant reduction in glutathione peroxidase, Superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione in liver and kidney tissues, histopathologically confirmed by tubular necrosis. W. somnifera treatment altered the antioxidant status and significantly reversed the levels as seen microscopically. The results show that the root powder of W. somnifera with the presence of natural antioxidants, bioflavanoids, and other bioactive compounds scavenged the free radicals generated by GEN and ameliorated the severity of GEN-induced nephrotoxicity by enhancing the antioxidant system and protecting the cellular integrity of kidney and liver tissues.

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