Abstract
BackgroundLead (Pb) remains an apparently indispensable material in several industrial processes. It is a potent environmental toxin with associated deleterious biological effects. The study investigated the effects of aqueous garlic extract (AGE) on renal clearance and proteinuria in Wistar rats with Pb-induced kidney injury.MethodsThirty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups of five rats each such that exposure to Pb (35 mg/kg i.p) for 10 consecutive days was either followed by 30 days recovery period (without treatment) or 30 days post-treatment with oral graded doses of AGE at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg while comparisons where made against a control (2 ml/kg NORMAL SALINE) at p < 0.05. The phytochemical constituents of the extract were determined using conventional standard protocols before administration to the rats.ResultsPb toxicity induced deleterious alterations of renal function biomarkers (creatinine, urea and total protein) in the plasma and urine, indicators of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation (GSH, SOD, CAT and TBARS) in the kidney tissues as well as significantly lowered plasma and kidney NO level (p < 0.05) of the rats. It also significantly lowered creatinine clearance and fractional excretion of urea while urine total protein-creatinine ratio was significantly increased in the rats. Kidney histology showed evidence of Pb-induced glomerular atrophy with tubular and interstitial vacuolation. However, AGE administration was associated with significant normalization of the aforementioned biochemical parameters (p < 0.05) as well as kidney histoarchitectural improvement. The pharmacological effects of AGE were attributed to its determined phytochemical constituents.ConclusionAGE normalized renal clearance through vasodilatory and antioxidant mechanisms with associated mitigation of proteinuria through stabilization of glomerular filtration barrier.
Highlights
Lead (Pb) remains an apparently indispensable material in several industrial processes
Pb-induced kidney injury Pb administration was associated with a significant increase in the plasma creatinine concentration of group 2 when compared with group 1 (p < 0.05)
That of the aqueous garlic extract (AGE)-treated groups 4, 5 and 6 were significantly lower when compared with groups 2 and 3, with no significant difference shown when compared with group 1
Summary
Lead (Pb) remains an apparently indispensable material in several industrial processes. Pb has found its relevance in several industrial processes such as in the production of paints, automobiles, water pipes, ceramics as well as electric storage batteries [9, 11] It is a non-biodegradable toxicant which when absorbed into the body (either by inhalation or ingestion) has an estimated biological half-life of about 10 years, enhancing bioaccumulation [10, 12]. Since the basic mechanism of Pb-induced toxicity is disruption of the antioxidant system, therapeutic interventions are usually geared towards application of chelating agents namely dimercaprol (BAL), Calcium Disodium EDTA (CaNa2EDTA) and succimer (2, 3–meso-dimercaptosuccinic acid or DMSA) These chelating agents are expensive, not readily available and sometimes burdened with undesirable side effects [9, 20]. This study aimed at exploring the therapeutic potential of a local ( accessible) medicinal plant in an experimental model of Pb-induced kidney injury
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