Beneficial effect of Alhagi maurorum on rats submitted to sulfadimidine-induced kidney injury

Abstract

Alhagi maurorum is one of the many plants that have proven effectiveness in folklore medicine and that are still utilized to treat disease or disorders, thanks to their phytochemical compounds and other secondary metabolites. Sulfadimidine, chemical known as 4-amino-N-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)benzene-sulfonamide, is an antibacterial drug that has side-effects on organs such as the kidney. In this study, the unwanted acute effect of this sulfonamide and of its metabolites was recorded in the form of rat interstitial nephritis and as an increase in creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Results showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in BUN levels in rat groups treated with the ethanolic extract of Alhagi maurorum as a therapy, but there were no significant differences ob¬served in terms of the creatinine levels in these groups. The undertaken histological study revealed an almost normal histological appearance of the kidneys in the two groups of rats that were treated with the plant extract as a therapy after the damage that occurred as a result of the drug injection (interstitial nephritis, infiltration lympho¬cytes, and mild tubular atrophy). Our study suggests a potential benefit from natural plants in the treatment of drug-related adverse effects.