The ethanol leaf extract of Andrographis paniculata blunts acute renal failure in cisplatin-induced injury in rats through inhibition of Kim-1 and upregulation of Nrf2 pathway.

Background Cisplatin (CP) is a novel drug of choice in the treatment of cancer but its major limitation is nephrotoxicity, which is dose limiting. Andrographis paniculata (AP) is a common Indian dietary component. It is well known for its medicinal properties. This present study investigated the nephroprotective effect of ethanol leaf extract of Andrographis paniculata (EEAP) on CP-induced nephrotoxicity. Methods CP was used to induce nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats to study the effect of EEAP on renal damages using hematological parameters, biochemical parameters, histology, and immunohistochemistry studies. Results The effects of EEAP were determined by CP-induced changes in different kidney tissue on antioxidant enzymes, markers of oxidative stress, serum creatinine, and urine parameters. Administration of EEAP (200 mL/kg and 400 mg/kg orally), prior to and following a single dose CP treatment (10 mg/kg i.p), significantly mitigated the CP-induced decrease in antioxidant enzymes, and increase in markers of oxidative stress, serum creatinine, and urinary protein. On histopathological examination of the kidney tissue, there was severe glomerular degeneration and infiltration of inflammatory cells in CP only treated rats, mild glomerular degeneration, and infiltration of inflammatory cells in EEAP pre-treated rats. Furthermore, EEAP activated Nrf2 and mitigated Kim-1 pathways in CP-induced nephrotoxicity. Conclusions The results showed the protective effect of EEAP against CP-induced nephrotoxicity.