ACTEOSIDE, A COMPONENT OF STACHYS SIEBOLDII MIQ, MAY BE A PROMISING ANTINEPHRITIC AGENT - EFFECT OF ACTEOSIDE ON CRESCENTIC-TYPE ANTI-GBM NEPHRITIS IN RATS

Effects of acteoside (ACT) on crescentic-type anti-GBM nephritis in ra ts were investigated. When rats were treated with ACT from the Ist day after i.v. injection of anti-GBM serum, ACT inhibited the elevation o f protein excretion into urine. In the ACT-treated rats, cholesterol a nd creatinine contents and antibody production against rabbit gamma-gl obulin in the plasmas were lower than those of the nephritic control r ats. Histological observation demonstrated that this agent suppressed hypercellularity and the incidence of crescent formation, adhesion of capillary wall to Bowman's capsule and fibrinoid necrosis in the glome ruli. Furthermore, rat-IgG and C-3 deposits on the GBM were significan tly less in the ACT-treated group than in the control nephritic group. When the treatment was started from the 20th day after i.v. injection of anti-GBM serum, by which the disease had been established, ACT res ulted in a similar effect on the nephritic rats as stated above. These results suggest that ACT may be a useful medicine against rapidly pro gressive glomerulonephritis, which is characterized by severe glomerul ar lesions with diffuse crescents.