The Possible Protective Effect OF Panax Ginseng on Gentamicin- Induced Nephrotoxicity of the Adult Albino Rats: (Morphological and Ultrastructural study)

Background: Aminoglycosides are natural or semi-synthetic antibiotics with a heterocyclic structure formed by two or more amino-sugars linked by glycoside bonds to an aminocyclitol ring. The aminoglycosides group include gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, netilmicin, kanamycin, streptomycin and neomycin. These drugs are used primarily to treat infections caused by aerobic gram-negative bacteria. Use of gentamicin is now limited due to its toxic effects, mainly on kidney and vestibular system. Herbal products including ginseng has been reported to possess protective effects against drugs induced nephrotoxicity in experimental animals. Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of gentamicin administration on rat kidney and the possible protective effect of ginseng against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Methods: Sixty male adult albino rats, were divided into 5 groups. Group I (control group) served as control and was given1 ml isotonic saline solution/day intraperitoneally (I.P.) for 10 days; Group II (ginseng group) was given 100 mg/Kg/day of ginseng dissolved in 1 ml of distilled water orally for 10 days; Group III (gentamicin group) was given 100 mg/Kg/day of gentamicin intraperitoneally for 10 days; Group IV was given 100 mg/Kg/day of gentamicin intraperitoneally, simultaneously with 100 mg/Kg/day of ginseng dissolved in 1 ml of distilled water orally for 10 days; Group V was given 100 mg/Kg/day of gentamicin intraperitoneally for 10 days followed by 100 mg/Kg/day of ginseng dissolved in 1 ml of distilled water orally for another 10 days thereafter. At the end of the experiment, blood was drawn from each animal by cardiac puncture for renal function tests. Each animal was then sacrificed and the kidneys were excised and then subdivided into two parts for light and electron microscopic examination. Results: In group III, weight of the animals decreased and there was significant increase in mean serum urea and creatinine as compared to the controls (group I). Moderate to severe necrotic and degenerative changes in the glomerulus, proximal convoluted tubules and distal convoluted tubules were seen in this group. When the Ginseng and gentamicin were given together (group IV), a statistically significant improvement in the mean body weight along with improvement in renal function tests, there was significant improvement in the histological picture towards the normal. When ginseng was given after gentamicin there were more improvement in the body weight of animals and renal function tests, with significant improvement in the histological picture towards the normal. Conclusion: the results of the current study showed that Ginseng has some protective role against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity. [Ashraf A. Mohamed, Alaa S. Al-Sagheer and Mohamed D. Sleem Anatomy and Anatomy and the Possible Protective Effect OF Panax Ginseng on GentamicinInduced Nephrotoxicity of the Adult Albino Rats: (Morphological and Ultrastructural study). Nat Sci 2017;15(4):1-12]. ISSN 1545-0740 (print); ISSN 2375-7167 (online). http://www.sciencepub.net/nature. 1. doi:10.7537/marsnsj150417.01.