Nephroprotective Effect of Pterocarpus indicus Willd. Leaves: Observation From Plasma Urea and Creatinine Levels Against Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Introduction: Pterocarpus indicus Willd. has been widely used empirically for treating canker sore, antibacterial and kidney disease. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate nephroprotective effect water-boiled P. indicus leaves against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats observed from plasma urea and creatinine levels. Materials and Methods: In this study, thirty (30) male rats divided into five treatment groups. The treat ment groups consisted of the normal group, induction group received gen tamicin (80 mg/kg body weight per day i.p.) and a group which received water-boiled P. indicus leaves with a dose of 28.8 mg/kg, 57.6 mg/kg, and 115.2 mg/kg body weight per day p.o. All groups received treatment for 21 days. At the 15th day, the animals received gentamicin i.p. for 7 days. At the 22nd day, the blood was collected from orbital sinus. The plasma urea and creatinine levels were measured by Berthelot method for plasma urea and colorimetric method for plasma creatinine. Results: The highest dose of 115.2 mg/kg water-boiled P. indicus was decreased plasma urea and creatinine levels also significantly different (p<0,05) compared induc tion group. Conclusions: Water-boiled P. indicus leaves have a potential to prevent gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity might be due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity.