Nephroprotective property of Trifolium repens leaf extract against paracetamol-induced kidney damage in mice

Paracetamol-induced toxicity is one of the major drawbacks in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. The present study was performed to find out the impacts of phenolic compounds in the Trifolium repens (white clover) leaves (TR) against the paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. The extract was administered orally to mice in different doses (1, 2, and 3 mL having a dry mass of 11.0 mg/mL) along with paracetamol (300 mg/kg) alone or in combination. Kidney histology, serum renal function tests, serum electrolytes, reduced glutathione, and lipid peroxidation were evaluated. Paracetamol significantly affected kidney weight, renal profile biochemistry, serum electrolytes, reduced glutathione, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (as lipid peroxidation) in mice. The amount of total phenolic compounds identified in the extract was 8.89 mg/g, representing 80.8% of the extract. The simultaneous administration of the TR extract leads to the normalization of all those parameters, which were deviated due to paracetamol ingestion. Kidney histological examination showed that nephrotoxicity was induced due to paracetamol, while the extract rich in phenolic compounds acts as therapeutic agents. The administration of extract also normalized the reduced glutathione from 0.837 to 2.21 of the paracetamol and paracetamol with 3-mL extract, respectively. Lipid peroxidation in the kidney was significantly (p < 0.05) declined by the extract (0.435 µmol/g) as compared to PC (3.96 µmol/g). In conclusion, TR extract possesses active beneficial phenolic compounds with nephroprotective function.