The protective role of saffron petal extracts on gentamicininduced nephrotoxicity in rats

Different potentially therapeutic approaches to prevent or attenuate gentamicin sulfate (GM) induced nephrotoxicity have been proposed. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of the saffron petals extracts ( Crocus sativus) (SPE) on male Wistar rats with kidney failure. Rats (40) were randomly assigned into five groups of 8 animals each: i) the control group, that received normal saline (0.5 mL/kg); ii) the GM group, that received GM (80 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection on a daily basis; iii) the GM+SPE group that received the same dose of GM and SPE (40 mg/kg) by i.p. injection on a daily basis; iv) the GM+2SPE group, that received the same dose of GM and twofold of SPE (80 mg/kg) by i.p. injection on a daily basis; whereas v) 2SPE+GM group, that received 80 mg/kg of SPE a week before initiating the treatment with GM (prevention group). Significant differences were seen in the concentration of glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine between treatment groups and control in the male Wistar rats. GM was observed to cause nephrotoxicity, which was evidenced by an elevation of serum BUN and creatinine levels. The biochemical findings of the current study are concordant with those of histopathologic findings. The results of this study indicate that SPE especially in dose of 40 mg/kg can ameliorate harmful effects of GM on the kidney. The present results may suggest that the SPE have ameliorative effects on kidney failures induced by GM.