INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF CHINESE ANT EXTRACT (CAE) ON NEPHROTOXICITY INDUCED BY FERRIC-NITRILOTRIACETATE (FE-NTA) IN WISTAR RATS

We observed the inhibitory effects of Chinese ant extract (CAE), a Chi nese traditional medicine, on nephrotoxicity induced by Fe-NTA in Wist ar rat. Strong positive staining with Schiff's reagent was found in th e proximal tubules of the untreated control rats. In contrast, the pos itivity was very weak in CAE treated rats. The level of TBARS was also higher in the untreated control rats than in CAE treated rats. Meanwh ile, the scavenging effect of CAE on hydroxyl radicals was analyzed by electron spin resonance (ESR) in vitro. The results indicate that CAE can efficiently prevent Fe-NTA induced nephrotoxicity through quenchi ng free radicals mechanism.