African Journal of
Pharmacy and Pharmacology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0816
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJPP
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 2298

Full Length Research Paper

The effect of Echinacea on kidney and liver after experimental renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in the rats

Gokhan Bayramoglu1, Sahin Kabay2*, Hilmi Ozden3, Mehmet Cengiz Ustuner4, Onur Uysal5, Aysegul Bayramoglu4,  Hakan Senturk1, Gül Güven3 Cansu Ozbayer4, Ali Kutlu1, Derya Ustuner6 and Mediha Canbek1
1Artvin Coruh University, Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Biology, Coruh, Turkey. 2Department of Urology, Dumlupınar University Kütahya, Treating and Research Hospital, Kütahya, Turkey. 3Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir  Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey. 4Artvin Coruh University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Coruh, Turkey. 5Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Focational School of Health Services, Eskisehir, Turkey. 6Department of Medical Genetic, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 16 September 2011
  •  Published: 08 October 2011

Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of Echinacea on kidney and liver against oxidative stress during renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, by determining biochemical parameters and evaluating histological examinations. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated in five groups (each group consists of 8 animals). Group 1 (Control; non-ischemic animals); Group 2 (renal I/R injury+saline), Group 3 (renal I/R injury + Echinacea, 25 mg/kg), Group 4 (renal I/R injury + Echinacea, 50 mg/kg) Group 5 (renal I/R injury+ Echinacea, 100 mg/kg) were designed to evaluate effects of Echinacea in renal I/R injury on the morphological changes in kidney and liver. A right nephrectomy was performed for I/R injury. On the 15th day following nephrectomy, ischemia and reperfusion was performed. Echinacea was administered intraperitoneally. Left kidney and liver were taken after 24 h of reperfusion period for histopathological examinations. The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities were determined from tissue homogenates. In the study, Echinacea administration in renal ischemia-reperfusion decreased MDA in kidney and liver. SOD activity was decreased with low and high doses of Echinacea treatment in both kidney and liver. Echinacea administration decreased CAT levels in kidney and no difference was observed between Echinacea doses. CAT was increased in liver low dose group. But CAT was decreased in high doses of Echinacea. Histopathological examinations showed partial improvement in the damages seen in I/R injury after Echinacea administration at both kidney and liver. Echinacea may be effective in preventing oxidative injury.

 

Key words: Echinacea, ischemia-reperfusion, kidney, liver, antioxidant enzyme.