NEPHROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM L.) ON CISPLATIN INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN MALE WISTAR RATS

Objectives: The present study investigated the in vivo antioxidant and nephroprotective potential of ethanolic extract of garlic ( Allium sativum L.) against cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar male rats. Methods: Nephrotoxicity was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (5 mg/kg b.w.) on the first day of the experiment. The animals were treated with ethanolic extract of garlic at doses 150 mg/kg b.w. and 300 mg/kg b.w. for four consecutive days. The effect of the higher dose (300 mg/kg b.w.) of garlic extract on normal rats was also studied. The animals were sacrificed on the fifth day and enzymatic antioxidants and lipid peroxidation were assessed in kidney whereas urea, creatinine, uric acid and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were quantified in serum samples. Results: Cisplatin induction resulted in a decrease in the activities of kidney antioxidants with a concomitant increase in kidney weight, lipid peroxidation along with serum kidney markers like urea, creatinine, uric acid and BUN. Treatment with ethanolic extract of garlic rendered a protective effect by boosting up the antioxidant levels and reverting back the markers to near normalcy. The garlic extract at higher dose also had no significant biochemical alterations in normal rats. Conclusion: The results from this study reveals that the ethanolic extract of garlic possess a potential nephroprotective property with no aftereffects. Keywords: Allium sativum , Cisplatin, Antioxidants, Nephroprotective, Kidney markers.