Effect of ethanolic extract of boerhavia diffusa on the expression of TGF B and nephrin in renal tissues of adenine induced chronic kidney disease rats

Abstract

Renal failure is a common and catastrophic complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is characterized by gradual kidney function loss and degradation of the kidney parenchyma. Nephrin is a transmembrane protein that maintains the slit diaphragm of renalpodocyte. In chronic kidney disease (CKD), podocyte effacement causes damage to glomerular basement membrane barrier leading to proteinuria. TGF- and#946; is a key factor of CKD progression. Boerhaviadiffusa (BD), an Ayurveda herb, is used in treatment of various diseases particularly in relation to the urinary system. This study attempts to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of BD on the expression of nephrin and TGF-beta in adenine induced CKD rats. Methods used: CKD was induced in Wistar albino rats using adenine (600/mg/kg, orally for 10 days). CKD rats were treated with BD (400/mg/kg/) and pirfenidone (500/mg/kg) orally for 14 days. Serum urea, creatinine and total protein levels were measured. The kidneys were harvested from euthanized animals and processed for histopathology, electronmicroscopy, and immunohistochemistry, gene and protein expression of nephrin and TGF-beta. Results: BD extract administration showed reduction in the urea,creatininie level and improvement in the total protein level of CKD animals. Diseased rats treated with BD and pirfenidone showed reduction in the thickening of renal basement membranes, reduced fibrosis and reduced haziness in brush border of PCT and glomeruli. Nephrin gene and protein expressions were upregulated and TGF-beta was downregulated in BD and pirfenidone treated group when compared to the disease control group. Conclusion: The structural and functional damage brought on by adenine-induced nephrotoxicity was countered by protective action of BD by up regulation of nephrin expression and downregulation of TGF-beta expression. Therefore, BD can be utilized as an alternative drug for the prevention and treatment of CKD after clinical trials. newline