IN VIVO ANTITOXIC ACTIVITY OF SAPONIN ISOLATED FROM TARAXACUM OFFICINALE L. AGAINST CCL₄-INDUCED RENAL TOXICITY IN RATS

Abstract

Carbon tetrachloride has been used in many industry as an industrial solvent and drinking water. Its contamination is biggest human health concern. Ithigh concentration has many deleterious effects on human physiology and histology, especially renal and hepatotoxicity. To overcome such pathophysiological and histopathological effects a great supporthas been reported on bioactive compound of natural products for which one of the major source of natural products are plants. One such plant that has phytochemicals and tested as an antioxidant and anti-bacterial agentin many parts of the world is Taraxacum officinale L.(dandelion).It is sometime consider as weed presnt in gardens and roadsides however it has been consumed as food and herbal medicine too. This study was designed to find out the antitoxic activity of saponin extracted from Taraxacum officinaleon renal tissue toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloridein rat model.Plants for this study was collected locally and after taxonomical identification was processed for extraction. Leaf methanolic extracts were exposed to spectrophotometer to estimate the phytochemicals. Later on this extract was processed for separation of phytochemicals (flavonoids, tannins, phlorotannin and saponin) through HPLC. Experimental animals were divided into ten groups having twelve rats in each group: Control group(normal food & water), dose of DMSO, CCl4, rutin CCl4 and from Group V to group IX different fractions of saponin that is rangingfrom 5mg/kg to 25mg/kg body weight dissolved in DMSO were given orally weekly for ten weeks after 48 hours of CCl4 administration. Group X was given only extract of saponin 25 mg/kg body weight mixed in DMSO orally. Different fractions of the saponin were used to check anti-toxic effect of saponin. At end of trial period rats were killed for investigate histological and biochemical parameters. In a group of rats treated with CCl4 versus control, tubular deterioration, tubular dilatation, glomerular degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, and capillary blockage were observed, as well as tubular deterioration, tubular dilatation, glomerular degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, capillary blockage and cortex and medulla of kidneys were observed.Saponin's protective effect was further demonstrated by decreased histological changes in the kidneys. Biochemical study also reflects the protective effects of saponin as GFR reduced due to increasedurea & creatinine level in CCl4 treated group. However biochemical parameters significantly reduced tonormal ingroup treated with saponin extract.Our finding suggests that saponin separated from Taraxacum officinale. methanolic extract possesses renal protective and antioxidant effects against CCl4-induced renal toxicity.Taraxacum officinale could be employed as a protective and supportive treatment for CCL4-induced kidney damage, and the leaves could be useful for drug development in the pharmaceutical industry.