NEPHROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF TUKHME KARAFS (APIUM GRAVEOLENS L.) AGAINST GENTAMICIN INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

Tukhme Karafs is the seed of Apium graveolens L., which is an important aromatic plant grown globally as a fresh herb and widely used as salad crop. This seed possesses potential pharmacological activity like hepatoprotective, diuretic and lithotriptic. The present study was designed to evaluate nephroprotective effect of Tukhme Karafs against gentamicin (80 mg/kg BW) induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats. The effect was tested at two dose levels i.e. 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg BW (calculated based on clinical dose mentioned in Unani literature). The study was divided into curative and protective models. The efficacy was determined based on estimation of biochemical parameters (creatinine, uric acid, BUN and serum electrolytes) along with quantification of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) using ELISA method in kidney tissue homogenate and histopathological study of kidney tissue. The findings of the study showed that Tukhme Karafs at both tested doses showed prominent reduction of biochemical parameters as compared to negative control group in both models. KIM-1 reduction was observed but was not statistically significant in both the models. Histopathological changes showed that drugs have inhibited gentamicin induced injury in both models. These results confirm the nephroprotective effect of Tukhme Karafs.