Acute nephroprotective and antioxidant activities of aqueous leaf extract of Plectranthus amboinicus (Roxb.) grown in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Plectranthus amboinicus (Roxb.) is a medicinal plant, widely used in the management of various chronic diseases in Sri Lankan traditional medicine including kidney diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate nephroprotective and total antioxidant activities of the aqueous leaf extract of P. amboinicus (Lamiaceae). The nephroprotective activity was evaluated in Adriamycin induced nephrotoxic Wistar rats while the total antioxidant activity was determined using three standard in vitro assays. Blood and urine were used for the estimation of selected renal parameters. H and E stained sections of the kidney tissues were used for the assessment of treatment related histological changes in the kidney tissues in order to prove the nephroprotective activity of P. amboinicus extract. The results revealed that the aqueous leaf extract of P. amboinicus possesses significant nephroprotective and antioxidant activities which scrutinize the therapeutic use of the plant in the management of kidney diseases.