The protective effect of Hypericum origanifolium in experimental renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract

Hypericum origanifolium leaf extract (HOE) is a medicinal plant extract containing many polyphenolic compounds. Polyphenolic compounds have high antioxidant potential. Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) play a role in the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) in the kidney. This study was designed to determine the possible protective effect of HOE on renal I/R injury. Twenty four adult female Wistar albino rats were evaluated in three groups. Group 1 (Control), group 2 (renal I/R injury+Saline), and group 3 (renal I/R injury+HOE 50 mg/kg) were designed to evaluate the effects of HOE in renal I/R injury on histopathological examinations. The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase(CAT) activities were determined. Plasma blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UAC), SGOT (alanine aminotransferase, ALT), SGPT (serum aspartat aminotransferase, AST) and lactate dehydraogenase (LDH) levels were measured. HOE treatments in renal ischemia-reperfusion decreased MDA in kidney and liver. SOD and CAT activities were increased with HOE treatment in kidney and liver. When all groups were compared histopathologically in kidney, HOE administration improved I/R-induced damages such as hyaline cast, tubular dilatation and parenchymal hemorrhagia. The plasma BUN values were increased in I/R group when compared with control; on the other hand after HOE administration, the BUN values decreased, but not significantly. The Cr, UAC, SGOT, SGPT and LDH levels increased in I/R group, but decreased after HOE administration when compared with I/R group. The findings imply that ROMs play a causal role in I/R-induced renal injury and HOE exerts renoprotective effects probably by the radical scavenging and antioxidant activities\t \tKey words: Hypericum origanifolium, renal ischemia/reperfusion, rat, antioxidant.