Chemoprotective effect of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis in modulating cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and genotoxicity

The chemoprotective effect of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Linn (PME) was studied on cisplatin-induced nephro- and genotoxicity in male Swiss albino mice. The treatment of mice with different doses of PME (400 and 600 mg/kg body weight) for 7 days before the administration of a single i.p. dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg) exhibited significant chemoprotective activity. Renal dysfunction was evaluated biochemically by measuring the concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine and histologically by light microscopy. Genotoxicity was evaluated by the bone marrow micronucleus assay. A single dose of cisplatin significantly elevated the levels of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and the kidney to body weight ratio, but pretreatment with PME (600 mg kg(-1) day(-1) ) for 7 days significantly attenuated the cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) in the bone marrow was determined at 24 h after the administration of cisplatin. After administration of cisplatin, the frequency of MNPCEs distinctly increased. In mice treated with PME before cisplatin application, there was a decrease in the number of MNPCEs when compared with mice injected with only cisplatin. Ethanol extract of PME thus has a marked free radical scavenging effect indicating its antioxidative property. The results suggest that the ethanol extract of PME has a protective effect against cisplatin-induced nephro- and genotoxicity through its antioxidant property.