MAGNESIUM LITHOSPERMATE-B AMELIORATES CEPHALORIDINE-INDUCED RENAL INJURY

To determine whether magnesium lithospermate B ameliorates renal injur y induced by cephaloridine, the effect of cephaloridine was investigat ed in rats given magnesium lithospermate B for 20 days preceding cepha loridine administration and in control rats given no magnesium lithosp ermate B. In the control rats, blood and urinary parameters and the ac tivity of radical-eliminating enzymes in the renal tissue deviated fro m the normal range, indicating damage to the kidneys. In contrast, rat s given magnesium lithospermate B showed decreased urine volume, incre ased urinary osmotic pressure, and decreased urinary levels of glucose , protein, sodium and potassium, denoting less damage to the kidney. I n this group, the urinary nitrite/nitrate ratio, and the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the renal tissue were increased, while the malondialdehyde levels were decreased, suggesting the invol vement of radicals in the normalizing of kidney function. The increase d levels of urea nitrogen in the blood of rats with induced renal fail ure were also lowered by administering magnesium lithospermate B.