Griffonia simplicifolia (DC.) Baill. attenuates gentamicin and cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicty in rats

Nephrotoxicity is one of the most common kidney conditions. However, most conventional drugs are not adequate for treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the nephroprotective activity of 50% hydroethanolic leaf extract of Griffonia simplicifolia (DC.) Benth in drug-induced nephrotoxicity in Sprague–Dawley rats. Nephrotoxicity was induced in experimental animals by administering gentamicin and cisplatin after pre-treatment with hydroethanolic extract of G. simplicifolia (GSE). GSE at 100 and 250 mg/kg were administered for 7 and 10 days by oral gavage in the gentamicin and cisplatin models, respectively. Silymarin (120 mg/kg) was given as the standard nephroprotective drug. Nephroprotective effect was studied by assaying the activity of kidney function biomarkers such as creatinine, urea, sodium, chloride, and potassium concentrations. The effect of the treatments on kidney antioxidant enzymes (SOD, MDA, GSH, GPx, GST and NO), inflammatory cytokines (IL 17, IL 23 and COX-2) and the histology of the kidney were also examined. The activity of all the kidney function biomarkers changed significantly in gentamicin and cisplatin-treated rats; increased in urea and creatinine concentration and decreased in Na, K and Cl concentrations. Co-administration of GSE with the nephrotoxins restored these to normal levels. It also reduced NO concentration in both the gentamicin and cisplatin model and increased GPx concentration in the gentamicin model. GSE showed a higher percentage protection than silymarin, a standard nephroprotective drug, in both the gentamicin and cisplatin models. Intensity of structural alterations revealed that the GSE treatments have a protective potential against nephrotoxicity. GSE treatments improved expressions of IL17 and IL23, thus underscoring the proinflammatory and healing properties of GSE, respectively. The results generally indicate that leaves of G. simplicifolia possess nephroprotective activity.