NEPHROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF MENTHA LONGIFOLIA AGAINST CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN RATS: A BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

The study was designed to investigate the nephroprotective activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Mentha longifolia (ML) against cyclophosphamide induced nephrotoxicity in experimental rats. The Albino Wistar rats of either sex were divided in to five groups of six animals each. Group 1 and group 2 served as normal and toxic control group respectively. Other groups treated with Mentha longifolia leaf extract (500mg/kg, p.o) alone, low (250mg/kg, p.o) and high (500mg/kg, p.o) dose of Mentha longifolia. Nephrotoxicity was induced by administering cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg, i.p.) single injection on first day of experimental period followed by administration of Mentha longifolia (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) continuously for 10 days. The general observations and mortality were measured. Cyclophosphamide administration significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the levels of antioxidant markers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and increased lipid peroxidation (LPO). Cyclophosphamide elevated the levels of biomarker enzymes like Albumin (ALB), Creatinine (CTN) and Total protein (TP). Treatment with Mentha longifolia significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the status of serum biomarkers and oxidative enzymes in cyclophosphamide induced nephrotoxicity. Potential nephroprotective effect of Mentha longifolia was supported by histopathological examination that reduced severity of cellular damage of the renal epithelial cell. The biochemical and histopathology reports support the nephroprotective effect of Mentha longifolia which could be attributed to antioxidant activity