Amelioration of cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity by PTY: a herbal preparation

Cisplatin, a chosen drug for cancer treatment, is associated with severe nephrotoxicity, that limits its clinical use. Cisplatin involves enhanced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and death of tubular cells. Nephroprotective role of PTY, prepared from methanolic extract of tubers of Pueraria tuberosa D.C., has been studied. PTY was orally given to rats in different doses for seven consecutive days, along with cisplatin (8 mg/kg B.W., i.p.) on 4th day. PTY significantly prevented the rise in serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen. It prevented the decline in glutathione content, activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and also prevented DNA damage, tubular swelling, cellular necrosis and protein cast deposition as compared to experimental control group in kidney. These changes were restored to near normal levels by PTY in dose of 40 mg/100 g B.W. Thus, it is proposed that the PTY possesses dose-dependent protective effect against cisplatin induced kidney damages, primarily through its free radical scavenging property.