Protection against mercury-induced renal damage in Swiss albino mice by Ocimum sanctum

Mercury is being widely used in the industry, medical, agriculture and other fields. However, mercury deposition affects the nervous, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal and renal systems, as well as the embryo. In most animals' species, including man, the kidney is one of the main sites of deposition of inorganic mercury and target organ for its toxicity. The present investigation reports protection against mercury-induced toxicity by Ocimum sanctum (a traditional sacred medicinal plant, family: Labiatae). Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups. (i) Control group-only vehicle (0.9% NaCl) was given (ii) HgCl2-treated group-5.0 mg/kg b.w. HgCl2 administered as i.p. (iii) Ocimum treated group-10 mg/kg b.w. Ocimum leaves extract was administered orally. (iv) Combination group-Ocimum leaves extract was administered 10 days prior to mercuric chloride administration and continued upto 30 days after mercuric chloride administration (5.0 mg/kg b.w.). The animals were autopsied on day 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 after treatment. Activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured in kidney homogenates. The results indicated that there was a significant increase in LPO content, ACP activity and decrease in LDH and ALP activity after HgCl2 treatment. The animals treated with Ocimum alone did not show any significant alterations in ACP and ALP activity. However, a significant increase in LDH activity and decrease in LPO level was observed. In combined treatment of Ocimum with HgCl2, a significant decrease in LPO content and ACP and elevation in LDH and ALP activity was observed as compared to HgCl2-treated group. Ocimum extract is also effective in reducing the pathological alterations in the kidney. Thus, the results from the present study suggest that pre-and post-treatment of Ocimum sanctum leaves extract can significantly protect the renal damage against mercuric chloride-induced toxicity.