Exploring the potential of plant extracts in treating nephrotoxicity and other chronic diseases

Egyptian researchers examined the efficiency of water extracts from edible medicinal plants used to treat kidney stones, against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced nephrotoxicity. Their study was published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• The kidneys are essential organs that perform several important functions.
• Nephrotoxicity is one of the most prevailing kidney complications caused by extrinsic or intrinsic toxicants.
• Recently, natural remedies are gaining attention as alternatives to conventional drugs because they cause fewer side effects.
• Using mammalian kidney (Vero) cells, the researchers examined the therapeutic potential of Ammi visnaga (AV), Petroselinum crispum (PC), Hordeum vulgare (HV), and Cymbopogon schoenanthus (CS) to treat nephrotoxicity.
• They reported that the aqueous extracts have varying amounts of phenolic compounds and triterpenoids, as well as vitamin C.
• These antioxidants allowed the extracts to suppress CCl4-induced oxidative stress significantly by scavenging free radicals and enhancing cellular antioxidant indices.
• The extracts also significantly reduced CCl4-induced inflammation by inhibiting the expression of NF-kB, iNOS and nitric oxide.
• In addition, they improved the morphological appearance of Vero cells, cellular necrosis and the expression of kidney injury molecule-1, a marker of renal injury.
• The extract from AV improved CCl4-induced oxidative and inflammatory stress in Vero cells and proved to be more potent than Ketosteril, a drug used to treat chronic kidney disease.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the edible medicinal plants they studied, especially A. visnaga, are promising treatments for nephrotoxicity and other chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.

Read the full study at this link.

Journal Reference:

Abu-Serie MM, Habashy NH, Maher AM. IN VITRO ANTI-NEPHROTOXIC POTENTIAL OF AMMI VISNAGA, PETROSELINUM CRISPUM, HORDEUM VULGARE, AND CYMBOPOGON SCHOENANTHUS SEED OR LEAF EXTRACTS BY SUPPRESSING THE NECROTIC MEDIATORS, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND INFLAMMATION. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 25 June 2019;19(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2559-8