Preventive effect of Stachys lavandulifolia against gentamicin-induced oxidative stress and nephrotoxicity in rats

Gentamicin (GM) is an effective antibiotic against gram-negative bacterial infection. However, GM can produce nephrotoxicity. Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl. (SL) is extensively used in folk medicine as herbal tea and has strong antioxidative effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of SL on GM-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. In this study, forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six equal groups ( N = 7 each): control (group I), GM-treated (group II), SL200 mg/kg + GM-treated (group III), SL400 mg/kg + GM-treated (group IV), SL200 mg/kg-treated (group V), and SL400 mg/kg-treated (group VI) groups. The treatment procedures continued for 10 days. At the end of the experiment, serum and the kidneys of all groups were harvested for histological and biochemical examination. No statistical significant improvement in histological and biochemical indices was shown at 200 mg/kg of SL treatment in group III compared with group II; however, at 400 mg/kg of SL, normalized serum levels of uric acid ( P