Planta Med 2015; 81 - PM_137
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565514

Anti-apoptotic effect of Phyllanthus emblica extract prevents contrast-induced acute kidney injury in rats

S Kongkham 1, A Tasanarong 2, A Itharat 3
  • 1Division of Biochemistry, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, pathumthani, Thailand
  • 2Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, pathumthani, Thailand
  • 3Division of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, pathumthani, Thailand

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) occurs after the administration of intravenous iodinated contrast agents. Apoptosis has been proposed as one of the most important mechanisms in the pathogenesis of CI-AKI. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-apoptosis effect of the extract from Phyllanthus emblica L. (PE) in preventing CI-AKI.

Male Sprague Dawley rats were given water (control) or PE extracts (500 mg/kg/day) for 5 days before the induction of CI-AKI. Blood and renal tissues were collected to investigate renal function and pathohistological examination. The expression levels of Bax, and Bcl-2 in kidney were also determined to indicate anti-apoptotic effect using realtime PCR and western blotting.

In the CI-AKI group, an increase in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine was demonstrated which correlated with severity of tubular necrosis, peritubular capillary congestion and interstitial edema. In contrast, CI-AKI-induced rats administrated with PE extract significantly improved the renal function and ameliorated the renal injury. Realtime PCR and western blot analysis showed that the expression of Bax was up-regulated in the CI-AKI group, whereas that of Bcl-2 was down-regulated. However, PE treatment increased the Bcl-2 expression.

These findings suggest that pretreatment with PE extract provides the anti-apoptotic activity against CI-AKI in rat model.