Lipid peroxidation and renal injury in renal ischemia/reperfusion: Effect of Benincasa cerifera

To investigate the role of the methanolic fruit extract of Benincasa cerifera on lipid peroxidation (LPO) and renal pathology in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).In experimental methodology, both renal pedicles were occluded for 60 min followed by 24 h of reperfusion. B. cerifera (500 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 5 days prior to induction of renal ischemia and was continued for 1 day after ischemia. At the end of the reperfusion period, rats were sacrificed. Sham-operated rats followed same procedure except renal arteries occlusion. LPO and histopathological analysis were done in renal tissue. Serum creatinine and urea levels were measured for the evaluation of renal function. In ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) rats, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were increased significantly when compared with sham-control rats. Histological changes showed tubular cell swelling, interstitial oedema, tubular dilation and moderate-to-severe necrosis in epithelium of I/R rat as compared to sham control. The methanolic fruit extract of B. cerifera could attenuate the heightened MDA levels. I/R-induced renal injury was markedly diminished by administration of B. cerifera These results indicate that the methanolic fruit extract of B. cerifera attenuate renal damage after I/R injury of the kidney by potent antioxidant or free radical scavenging activity.