Abstract
Background: Materials can cause liver and kidney damage which carbon tetrachloride is one
of these substances. Medicinal plants and their essential oils and extracts have been used to
a large extent as drugs to better control and management of kidney diseases.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of
Avicennia marina leaves in the treatment of renal toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride.
Methods: Forty-two male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 7): control (taking
normal saline, 0.5 ml/day, intraperitoneally; i.p.), sham (taking olive oil, 0.5 ml/day, i.p.,
single dose), injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) 1:1 with olive oil, 0.5 ml single
dose, i.p.), treated groups 1, 2 and 3: by carbon tetrachloride 1:1 with olive oil, 0.5 ml
single dose and 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg or 800 mg/kg Avicennia marina extract (AME)/
day for 96 hours, i.p.). By direct blood sampling from the heart, the plasma concentrations
of lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and liver enzymes
including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline
phosphatase (ALP) were measured. Kidney sections were prepared from all groups and
the histological examinations were performed. The results were analyzed using one-way
analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results: The results indicated the significant (P < 0.05) increase of serum level of lactate
dehydrogenase and liver enzymes of AST, ALT and ALP in the group receiving CCl4
compared with the control group, whereas the treatment with hydro-alcoholic extract of
mangrove leaves caused a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in serum levels of these enzymes
in rats treated with carbon tetrachloride compared to the control group. Histological
investigation of renal tissue sections showed that the treatment with mangrove leaves
extract reduced the necrosis, inflammation and also improved the renal tubules.
Conclusions: Carbon tetrachloride has kidney, liver and cardiac toxicities and mangrove
extract is able to inhibit the toxicities of carbon tetrachloride.