Protective effect of Solanum torvum on doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Nephrotoxicity is one of the important side effects of anthracycline antibiotics. The aim of the study was to determine the protective effect of Solanum torvum on doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats using biochemical and histopathological approaches. Oxidative stress is the main factor in doxorubicin (DOX) induced nephrotoxicity. Wistar rats received either DOX (67.75 mg/kg, i.v, 2 days before sacrifice) or S. torvum (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) prior to DOX treatment or S. torvum (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) extract alone for 4 weeks. Nephrotoxicity was assessed by measuring the abnormal levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). The anti-oxidant defence enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) of kidney tissue were also measured at the end of the treatment schedule. Treatment with S. torvum (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the levels of creatinine and BUN and significantly (p < 0.05) increased the anti-oxidant defence enzyme levels of SOD and CAT. Histopathological changes showed that DOX caused significant structural damages to kidneys like tubular necrosis, renal lesions and glomerular congestion which was reversed with S. torvum. The results suggest that S. torvum has the potential in preventing the nephrotoxicity induced by doxorubicin.