Nephroprotective Effect of Echinodorus macrophyllus Micheli on Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Leaves of Echinodorus macrophyllus (EM), from the Alismataceae family, have been used in Brazilian folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. In this work, the diuretic and nephroprotective activities of crude extracts of EM were evaluated. METHODS: Normal Wistar rats were given 0.9% NaCl containing either EM (10–300 mg/kg), furosemide (13 mg/kg) or arginine vasopressin (0.2 mg/kg). Thereafter, the rats were individually housed in metabolic cages, and urine volume was measured every 30 min for a total of 3 h. Acute kidney injury was induced by gentamicin (GM, 80 mg·kg(−1)·day(−1), b.i.d., 5 days). Along with GM, 0.9% NaCl (control) or EM (30 mg/kg) was given to the rats by gavage. RESULTS: EM produced a dose-dependent reduction in urine elimination. EM was effective in reversing all GM-induced alterations such as polyuria and glomerular filtration rate reduction. The GM-induced morphological alterations were not observed when EM was given concomitantly with GM. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that EM possesses nephroprotective effect which indicates that EM may have therapeutic applications in GM-induced acute kidney injury.