Nephroprotective Effect of POLYCAN on Acute Renal Failure Induced by Cisplatin in Rats

We performed to evaluate the effect of POLYCAN (β-glucan) on cisplatin-(CDDP-)induced acute renal failure (ARF) in rats. POLYCAN was administered orally once a day for 32 days. Each of 8 rats per group was selected based on the body weight (BW) after acclimatization and they were sacrificed at 5 days after CDDP injection. There was significant (P < 0.05) increase of BW after CDDP dosing in all POLYCAN groups than vehicle control and significant (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) decrease of absolute and relative kidney weight were detected in all POLYCAN groups compared with vehicle control. In addition, serum BUN and creatinine level in all POLYCAN groups were significantly (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) lower than vehicle control and the percentage of degenerative regions significantly (P < 0.01) decreased in all POLYCAN groups. As the results of CDDP-induced ARF process, dramatic decrease of the BW, increase of the kidney weight, serum BUN, and creatinine level were detected in vehicle control group compared with sham control group. The changes by CDDP-induced ARF process in POLYCAN groups were significantly and dose-dependently improved compared with vehicle control group. Therefore, POLYCAN has enough potential to develop as a new agent of prevention or treatment for ARF.