Effect of charcoal treatment on rats with adenine‐induced chronic renal failure

Abstract

Charcoal, the black residue comprising of carbon and ashes, produced by slow pyrolysis of biological substances, has been used to cure toxicity by binding to the toxic substance and precluding its absorption by the gastro intestinal tract, thereby, preventing the toxicity caused by oral ingestion. In this work we analyzed the effect of charcoal given in the feed at concentrations of 5%, 15% or 20% in rats with adenine‐induced chronic renal failure (CRF). Eight groups, of six rats each, were treated with normal feed (controls), 0.75% adenine in feed, charcoal 5%, 15% or 20%, either alone or with adenine for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the treatment, samples of urine, blood and kidney were collected from all the rats to measure several biochemical, structural and functional parameters. The results showed that adenine induced changes in urine, plasma and kidney tissues of rats typical of CRF. These changes were significantly ameliorated by charcoal given at a concentration of 20%. The mitigation of toxicity induced by lower doses of charcoal was not statistically significant. The results suggest that charcoal (20%) is a useful sorbent agent in adenine‐induced CRF in rats.This work was supported by SQU.