Protective effects of the BuOH fraction from mustard leaf in a renal ischemia-reperfusion model

The effects of the BuOH fraction from mustard leaf in rats subjected to renal ischemia-reperfusion were examined. The elevated serum superoxide anion (O2-) level and renal xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity in rats subjected to 6-h reperfusion following 1-h ischemia significantly and dose-dependently declined after oral administration of the BuOH fraction at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg body weight/d for 10 d prior to ischemia-reperfusion. These findings indicate that this fraction might scavenge O2- or inhibit the generation of O2- through XOD activated by the ischemia-reperfusion process. In addition, the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance level of the renal mitochondrial fraction of rats given the BuOH fraction orally was significantly lower than that of control rats given physiological saline (vehicle), implying that this fraction exerted protective action against lipid peroxidation caused by ischemia-reperfusion. Furthermore, oral administration of the BuOH fraction reduced the serum urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, indicators of renal function. These results suggest that the BuOH fraction has protective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury, acting as an antioxidant by scavenging O2-, inhibiting O2- generation through XOD, protecting against lipid peroxidation and ameliorating renal functional impairment.