Pharmacological Evaluation of Polyherbal Formulation for Nephroprotective Activity

Abstract

The kidney plays an essential role in removing waste products and drugs from the body and maintaining balanced body fluids. It gets affected due to many factors, notably, diabetes and high blood pressure. Nowadays, naturally, derived products are essential in curing various ailments and are safe and cost-effective. The purpose of this study is to assess the toxicity profile and nephroprotective effect of a proprietary polyherbal formulation in Wistar albino rats for gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. The Polyherbal formulation was procured from Rumi Herbals Private Limited. Acute toxicity experiments were conducted in Wistar rats using the Gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity model as per OECD standards 423, and the efficacy was assessed using the Gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity model. The formulation was proven safe up to 2000mg/kg orally in an acute toxicity study, with no behavioral abnormalities and no fatality. The gentamicin 80 mg/kg i.p for 7 days induced nephrotoxicity in rats showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in the renal parameters and reduction in antioxidant levels compared with day 0. Whereas test drug-treated groups at a low dose (200 mg/kg) and high dose (400 mg/kg) showed significant (P<0.05) reduction in elevated renal parameters and improvement in antioxidant levels compared with the disease control group. According to the histopathological interpretation of isolated kidneys, this formulation protects from kidney damage and restores typical kidney architecture. From the results, the proprietary polyherbal formulation has shown effective nephroprotective activity may be due to the presence of secondary metabolites/phytoconstituents. Further investigation is essential to focus on the mechanism involved and standardize the active phytoconstituents responsible for the nephroprotective activity.