The Protective Effect of Acacia senegal gum against Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity In Albino Rats

Abstract

Introduction: Acacia senegal gum is commonly known as Arabic gum or gum Arabic(GA) which obtained from the branches and stems of the trees as a dried gummy exudates. It is widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries as emulsifier and suspending agent. It has many pharmacologic effects including gastrointestinal effects such as increasing the short chain fatty acids and enhance water and electrolytes intestinal absorption but variable effects on lipid metabolism. In chronic renal failure patients, gum arabic reduces serum urea nitrogen. It is a potent superoxide scavenger so that it have a good protective activity against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity and doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. The Aim of study: In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of Acacia senegal gum against gentamicin (GM)-induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats. Materials and Method: The animals were divided into three groups A (Control), B (GM-only treated rats, 80mg/Kg, IM for 7days) and C (GA 10g/100ml water, orally for 4weeks prior to GM treatment). The nephrotoxicity was evaluated biochemically by determination level of serum Creatinine (Crea), Urea (Urea) and Uric acid (UA) level and histologically by microscopic examination the degree of proximal tubular damage. Results: The results showed significant increase in the level of Crea, Urea and UA in animals treated with GM only. In group (C), the level of Crea was high significant compared with the control but the level of Urea was significantly decreased compared with the control and the level of UA was significantly decreased compared with group B but higher than the control. Conclusion: These results suggest that Acacia senegal gum has some nephroprotective in rats, may be due to its antioxidant activities of GA.