Nephroprotective activity of methanolic extract of cucumis melo linn. In gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity

Abstract

The seed of Cucumis melo Linn. is having diuretic, lithotriptic, laxative, demulcent and cooling properties. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the nephroprotective activity of methanolic extract of Cucumis melo (ME-CM) seed kernel in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. The ME-CM was administrated orally (190 mg/kg/d) for 8 days. Gentamicin was administrated at the dose of 100 mg/kg daily in neck region subcutaneously from 4th to 8th day. Gentamicin (alone) treated group showed increased levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, which were significantly retrieved in group pretreated with ME-CM. The antioxidant study revealed that the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were increased with decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) content in ME-CM pretreated group when compared with gentamicin alone treated group. The histopathological analysis also showed the protective nature of ME-CM in gentamicin-induced renal damage. In conclusion, the histopathological and biochemical parameters confirmed that the ME-CM protect against gentamicin induced renal damage probably through its antioxidant activity.