Renoprotective effect of Tabernaemontana heyneana Wall. leaves against paracetamol-induced renotoxicity in rats and detection of polyphenols by high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector–mass spectrometry analysis

IntroductionTabernaemontana heyneana (syn. Ervatamia heyneana), locally known as kundalam paalai in Tamil, is being used in traditional medicine to treat microbial infections, diabetes, skin and venereal diseases, hepatotoxicity, and renotoxicity.AimAt present, there is no scientific documentation to prove the renoprotective effect of T. heyneana leaves, and therefore, we aimed at investigating the same.MethodsIn this study, optimal ethanolic leaf extract in two different doses (125 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day) was administered to male Wistar albino rats with paracetamol (750 mg/kg/day)-induced renotoxicity to investigate the renoprotective effect of the extract. Serum urea, uric acid, creatinine, and in vivo enzymatic antioxidant status of renal tissues were evaluated. Liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with diode array detector–mass spectrometry (MS) analysis was performed for the preparative thin layer chromatogram eluate to identify the polyphenols responsible for the renoprotective property.ResultsOptimal ethanolic leaf extract (250 mg) has a significant effect (p < 0.001) in restoring serum urea, uric acid, and creatinine levels and a similar significant effect (p < 0.001) was also observed in the in vivo antioxidant status. The LC coupled with diode array detector–MS analysis revealed that the presence of polyphenols such as quercetin, rutin, isoquercitrin, robinin, chlorogenic acid, 5-O-feruloylquinic acid, and one novel unknown compound may be responsible for the renoprotective effect.ConclusionOptimal ethanolic leaf extract of T. heyneana possesses significant renoprotective effect due to the presence of polyphenols.