Nephroprotective activity of betulinic acid in gentamicin induced murine model of Renotoxicity

Betulinic acid, a triterpenoid, is currently a molecule of great research interest with significant pharmacological activities including antioxidant action. In the current study we decided to study the effect of betulinic acid in a rat model of gentamicin induced renal damage. Nephrotoxicity was induced with gentamicin 80mg/kg, intraperitoneally for 8 days, and the test drug was administered at doses, 0.5, 1.5, and 3 mg/kg, per oral for 8 days, betulinic acid administered 3 days prior and concurrently with gentamicin for 5 days in wistar albino rats. Biochemical parameters studied included blood urea, serum creatinine, uric acid and blood urea nitrogen and also corroborated with histopathological examination of the kidney. The control group treated with gentamicin showed marked renotoxicity as evidenced by raised serum urea, serum uric acid, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (107.5±16.92 mg/dL, 0.88±0.09 mg/dL, 3.05±0.29 mg/dL and 47.80±9.07 mg/dL resp.) when compared to the saline treated groups. Betulinic acid when given with gentamicin significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the biochemical parameters. Histopathological study revealed dilated tubules, denuded epithelium and extensive tubular necrosis in the disease control, whereas betulinic acid in higher doses showed evidence of renal tubular regeneration. To conclude, the results of the present study indicates that betulinic acid has significant nephroprotective effect in animal models of gentamicin induced renal damage