Evaluation of the Nephroprotective Activity of Crude Extract Root of Rumex Abyssinicus Jacq in Swiss Albino Mice With Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity: In Vivo Study.

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury represents a spectrum of diseases and is one of the most common threats to global public health. Gentamicin is the most common nephrotoxic antibiotic drug. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify effective and safe therapeutic options from medicinal plants. Therefore, the purpose of this in vivo study is to evaluate the nephroprotective effects of the root of Rumex abyssinicus Jacq in Swiss albino mice exposed to gentamicin toxicity.

METHODS: A total of 30 mice were divided into five groups of six mice each. It comprised a normal control group (Group I) that received distilled water orally, Group II (100 mg/kg gentamicin-induced) without any intervention, and Group III-V that were experimental groups induced with 100 mg/kg gentamicin and treated with extracts of Rumex abyssinicus at the dose of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg daily for 14 days. Blood and kidney tissues were taken for biochemistry and histological analysis on the fifteenth day.

RESULT: Rumex abyssinicus extract treatment provided a significant nephroprotective effect (p < 0.001) against gentamicin-induced toxicity, as indicated by increased body weight and reduced kidney weight. In mice given 200 and 400 mg/kg of extract, the creatinine, urea, and uric acid measurements were decreased significantly compared to Group II. Furthermore, a similar dose of extracts showed the prevention of kidney damage via reduced tubular necrosis, glomerular congestion, and mononuclear infiltration, compared to the negative control, whereas mice given at the dose of 100 mg/kg extract showed no difference compared with Group II.

CONCLUSION: This study explained that the extracts of Rumex abyssinicus might act as a potent free radical scavenger and restore the toxic effects of gentamicin and a potential nephroprotective agent.