Protective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Alcea rosea aerial parts on cadmium chloride-induced renal dysfunction in male rats

Cadmium chloride causes renal dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Alcea rosea aerial parts on cadmium chloride-induced renal dysfunction in male rats.

In this experimental study, 54 adult male Wistar rats were assigned to six groups (n=9 in each group). The control group, the sham group1, received 0.2 ml of distilled water as solvent. Sham group 2 received 2 mg/kg cadmium chloride intraperitoneally (IP) for 21 days. Experimental groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, received 2 mg/kg cadmium chloride IP for 21 days, followed by 150,300, and 450 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extracts of aerial parts of Alcea rosea intraperitoneally for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken from all animals to measure levels of sodium, potassium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and uric acid. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 18) using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test.

The mean serum concentrations of creatinine, BUN, sodium, potassium, and uric acid in all experimental groups showed a significant decrease, as compared to those in sham group 2 (P<0.05).

Based on the results, hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Alcea rosea may improve cadmium chloride-induced renal dysfunction in male rats.