The Effect of Ilex × meserveae S. Y. Hu Extract and Its Fractions on Renal Morphology in Rats Fed with Normal and High-Cholesterol Diet

Abstract

Therapeutic properties of Ilex species are widely used in natural medicine. Ilex × meserveae may become a potential substitute for Ilex paraguariensis (Yerba Mate). As a part of the preliminary safety verification of this European Ilex hybrid vs. Yerba Mate, an eight-week study concerning the impact of regular administration of leaves of both species on kidneys was conducted. The standard water infusion and three dominant fractions of Ilex × meserveae leaves’ constituents (polyphenols, saponins and less polar terpenoids) were separately tried on 96 male Wistar rats divided into 8-member groups. Animals were divided into two basic nutritional groups: the first one was rats fed standard feed and the second on was rats fed with high-cholesterol diet (20 g of cholesterol per kg of standard feed). Postmortem morphometric evaluation of stained kidney samples concerned the filtration barrier elements, which are crucial in proper diuresis. The results showed that saponins present in the hydroalcoholic dry extract (administered in a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight/day) as well as in water infusions (1:20) from Ilex × meserveae and Ilex paraguariensis do not demonstrate nephrotoxicity but conversely, have a protective role on kidney status in animals fed with a normal diet and in a high-cholesterol diet.

Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Ilex Leaves Water Extracts

“…× meserveae and I. paraguariensis is clearer than that of I. aquifolium. It is known that saponins present in the hydroalcoholic dry extract as well as in water infusions from leaves of these species do not demonstrate nephrotoxicity but, conversely, have a protective role on kidney status in animals fed a regular diet and in a high-cholesterol diet [18].…”

“…These substances were divided into several groups: hydroxycinnamic acids and their derivates (28 compounds), flavonoid glycosides (24 compounds), methylxanthines (two compounds) and others (19 compounds). Extracts were also rich in saponins, but these were analysed previously and, therefore, not in our focus [18]. Components were detectable in MS negative mode (NEG), except for methylxanthines which were ionised only in the positive mode (POS).…”

“…The presence of hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives, methylxanthines, flavonoids and saponins in the Ilex family is widely known [5,8,17,33]. Saponins were not in the scope of this investigation because they were analysed in previous research [18], as described earlier.…”

“…A significant amount of hydroxycinnamic acids esters of quinic acid in these species (previous research [9]), as well as reported antimicrobial activity of I. paraguariensis water extract [14,16] and antibiofilm properties of I. guayusa [17], make holly species candidates for antibacterial research. Moreover, the presence of saponins in the investigated species [18] justifies using water as an extractant. Usually, water is not considered a proper solvent due to the high sugar content in water extracts; sugars can stimulate microbial growth.…”

Yerba Mate—A Long but Current History

“…Saponins present in dry hydroalcoholic extract and aqueous infusions (1:20) of I. paraguariensis were tested for nephrotoxicity, not only do not cause damage, but have a protective effect on kidney status in animals fed with a normal diet and a high cholesterol diet [81].…”