Therapeutic efficacy of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Curcuma longa on adenine induced chronic kidney disease in rats

Abstract

The current investigation was designed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of aqueous and alcoholic bi-herbal extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra (GG) and Curcuma longa (CL) on adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) using 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were randomly allocated into six different groups, each group comprising six rats. CKD was induced in groups II to VI by administering adenine at a dose of 200 mg/kg orally once daily for 28 days. Group I served as the control. Group II was adenine control, received adenine (200 mg/kg orally) for 28 days. Groups III, IV, V and VI were therapeutic groups, received adenine @ 200 mg/kg orally once daily for 28 days to induce CKD, after that rats were given bi-herbal aqueous and alcoholic extracts of GG and CL (1.5:1) orally for another 42 days. Groups III and IV, received bi-herbal aqueous extract of GG and CL @ 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively. Groups V and VI, received bi-herbal alcoholic extracts of GG and CL @ 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively. Blood samples were collected twice during the experiment, on day 28 and day 70. Various assessments including haematology, serum biochemistry, urine analysis, renal ultrasonography and histopathology were conducted. Adenine administration for 28 days resulted in significant decrease in haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count and lymphocyte, while significant increase in TLC and granulocyte, however treatment with bi-herbal aqueous and alcoholic extracts significantly ameliorated haematological alterations. Adenine induced CKD resulted in elevated serum creatinine, uric acid, BUN, ALT and Phosphorus while significantly reduced levels of serum uromodulin, albumin, total protein, and calcium. Conversely, treatment with aqueous and alcoholic bi-herbal extract significantly improved biochemical changes as compared to adenine control rats. Notably, the therapeutic efficacy was most pronounced in rats treated with bi-herbal alcoholic extracts at the dose rate of 500 mg/kg. In addition, significant increased levels of urine calcium and total protein, with decreased levels of urine creatinine, phosphorus and urine pH were observed in adenine control group as compared to normal control group. These changes were significantly reverted with treatment of aqueous and alcoholic bi-herbal extracts for 42 days. Following CKD induction, treatment with aqueous and alcoholic extracts of GG and CL attenuated ultrasonographic changes and improved histopathological damage in the kidney. Results of the present study showed that the bi-herbal alcoholic extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Curcuma longa in the ratio of 1.5:1 given at the dose rate of 500 mg/kg once orally daily for 42 days after induction of CKD is more efficacious in the treatment of CKD in rats.