Ameliorative Potential of Clerodendrum volubile Ethanol Leaf Extract on Doxorubicin-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicities in Rats

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Hepatorenal toxicity is a side effect of the anthracycline cytotoxic antibiotics, doxorubicin that is used in cancer treatment. The study investigated the ameliorative potential of Clerodendrum volubile ethanol leaf extract (CVE) on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced hepatorenal toxicities. Methods: Male Wistar rats were pretreated with Clerodendrum volubile ethanol leaf extract (50 - 400 mg/kg/day, p.o) followed by intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mg/kg of DOX on alternate days for 14 days. Hepatorenal toxicity was assessed using renal function parameters (serum electrolytes, blood urea and creatinine), hepatic function endpoints [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and total bilirubin (TB)]. In addition, the antioxidant activity in the kidney and liver tissues were assayed and histological studies of these tissues were also conducted. Results: Oral pretreatment with 50 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day, 200 mg/kg/day and 400 mg/kg/day of CVE remarkably ameliorated DOX-induced liver and kidney injury by lowering the serum ALT, AST, ALP, Cr and BUN levels. CVE pretreatment remarkably ameliorated DOX-induced increases in the CAT, SOD and GPx activities and MDA levels compared to the DOX-treated rats. The biochemical changes were corroborated by improvements in the DOX-induced histological lesions seen in the hepatic and renal tissues examined. Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest that Clerodendrum volubile ethanol leaf extract elicits protective effect against DOX-induced hepatorenal toxicities mediated primarily via oxidative stress suppression and improvement in the free radicals scavenging activities of CVE.