STUDIES ON NEPHROPROTECTIVE AND NEPHROCURATIVE ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF PICRORHIZA KURROA ROYLE AND AROGYAWARDHINI BATI IN RATS.

Aim: To evaluate nephroprotective and nephrocurative activity of rhizome of Picrorhiza kurroa.Materials and Methods: The ethanolic extract of rhizome of P. kurroa was studied for nephroprotective and nephrocurative effect in female Wistar rats against Cisplatin (5mg/kg b.w.i.p.) induced nephrotoxicity,by estimating serum creatinine and blood urea levels. One of the Ayurvedic formulations viz.Arogyawardhini, containing P. kurroa as a major ingredient was also studied for the nephroprotective and nephrocurative effects against Cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity. The formulation was standardized for thepresence of total polyphenols.Results: Treatments with the ethanolic extract of the rhizome in the dose of 600 mg/kg b.w.p.o.could significantly (P< 0.001) reduce the elevated serum levels of creatinine and blood urea.Conclusion: The formulation was found to have better activity as compared to the rhizome.