Salviae radix extract prevents cisplatin-induced acute renal failure in rabbits

The present study was carried out to determine if salviae radix extract (SR E) exerts a beneficial effect against cisplatin-induced renal failure in ra bbits. Rabbits were pretreated with SRE orally for 7 days, followed by cisp latin injection (5 mg/kg i.p,), Cisplatin injection caused a reduction in G FR, which was accompanied by an increase in serum creatinine levels, The fr actional Na+ excretion was increased by cisplatin injection. PAH uptake by renal cortical slices was inhibited by the administration of cisplatin. S u ch ch an ges we re prevented by SRE pretreatment, Cisplatin injection incre ased lipid peroxidation, which was prevented by SRE pretreatment. The prote ctive effect of SRE was supported by morphological studies. Cisplatin injec tion reduced renal blood flow that was not affected by SRE pretreatment. Ci splatin treatment in vitro in renal cortical slices increased LDH release a nd lipid peroxidation, which were prevented by 0.05% SRE. These results ind icate that lipid peroxidation plays a critical role in cisplatin-induced ac ute renal failure. SRE exerts a protective effect against renal cell injury induced by cisplatin, and its effect may be attributed to its antioxidant action. However, the underlying mechanism by which SRE has antioxidant acti on remains to be defined. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.