Nephroprotective Effect of Aqueous Extract of Pimpinella anisum in Gentamicin Induced Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Background: Pimpinella anisum known for its various medicinal properties is also a natural antioxidant and a free radical scavenger with no documented evidence as a nephroprotective agent. Objective: To evaluate the nephroprotective activity of aqueous extract of Pimpinella anisum seeds in a rodent model of gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Wistar albino rats of either sex, weighing 150–200 g was divided into 5 groups; normal saline, gentamicin 80mg/kg, intraperitoneally for 8 days, aqueous extract of Pimpinella anisum seeds at 1, 2, and 4g/kg, per oral for 8 days, the test extract administered 3 days prior and concurrently with gentamicin for 5 days. Blood urea, serum creatinine, uric acid and blood urea nitrogen analyses and microscopic examination of kidney were performed. Results: Gentamicin treatment caused nephrotoxicity as evidenced by marked elevation in serum urea, serum uric acid, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (107.5±16.92mg/dl, 0.8±0.09 mg/dl, 3.05±0.29 mg/dl, 47.8±9.07 mg/dl) respectively when compared to the saline treated groups. Co-administration of Pimpinella anisum extract with gentamicin decreased the rise in these parameters in a dose dependent manner. Histopathological analysis revealed epithelial loss with intense granular degeneration in gentamicin treated rats, whereas aqueous extract of Pimpinella anisum mitigated the severity of gentamicin-induced renal damage. Conclusion: To conclude, our data suggest that aqueous extract of Pimpinella anisum exhibits renoprotective effect in gentamicin induced renal damage and further studies on its mechanism of action are warranted.