The Potential Protective Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Some Herbs on Renal Toxicity Induced by Formaldehyde in Experimental Rats

Abstract

he current study was performed to evaluate the protective effect of aqueous extracts of Corn silk and Asparagus Officinalis against renal toxicity induced by formaldehyde in rats. Thirty-six male albino rats with "Sprague Dawley" strain weighing (150±10 g) were used and split into 2 major groups, the first group (6 rats) fed on a basal diet and kept as a negative control, and the second group of 30 rats was injected with formaldehyde intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg BW /day on 14 th to 28 th day and divided into 5 subgroups. The first subgroup received a normal diet and acted as a positive control group. The second, third, fourth, and fifth categories consumed standard feed with oral dosages of 200 and 400 mg/Kg body weight per day of aqueous corn silk and asparagus aqueous extract respectively during a 28-day period. Body weight gain (BWG), Feed intake (FI), feed efficiency ratio (FER), and relative kidney weight were computed at the finish of the experiment. Assessment of some serum biochemical parameters, kidney tissues were analyzed for antioxidant/oxidant markers, and histopathology of kidneys were assessed. The results revealed that corn silk and Asparagus aqueous extracts improved the biological evaluation, kidney functions, liver functions, Serum electrolytes, antioxidant enzymes activity, and histopathology of kidneys compared to the positive group. In conclusion, the administration of corn silk and Asparagus aqueous extracts can lower the impacts of formaldehyde on kidneys.