Full Length Research Paper 

The water decoction of Aristolochia debilis Sieb.et Zucc induces renal toxic effects in rats

Li-Qun Song¹, Xiao-Peng Ma¹, Li-Zhe Wang², Yu Qiao³, Ye-Xu Song³ and Yan-Chun Ma³

¹The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang Traditional Chinese Medicine University, Harbin 150040, China.

²Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin150036, China.

³Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: wanglikq@163.com. Tel :0451-82162347 or 0451-82162564. Fax: 86-451-82195301.

Accepted 1 December, 2009

 Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate toxic effects of different concentration of the Aristolochia debilis Sieb. et Zucc. on renal functions in rats. Wistar rats were randomly divided into low dosage group (treated with A. debilis Sieb.et Zucc at a dose of 0.81 g.kg^-1.d^-1 for three months), moderate dosage group (at a dose of 4.05 g.kg^-1.d^-1), high dosage group (at a dose of 8.1 g.kg^-1.d^-1) and control group. The renal function and urine nacety-β-D-amino-glucosidase (NAG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) was measured in 1, 2 and 3 months. The histopathological changes were examined by light and electron microscopy. The urine NAG level was elevated in High dosage group and Moderate dosage group, but there were no significant differences of BUN and serum creatinine among four groups. The renal histopathological examination showed that slight tubular-interstitial injury was detected in moderate dosage group and obvious renal injury was observed in High dosage group. Nevertheless, there were no renal abnormalities in Low dosage group. In summary, low dosage of A. debilis Sieb.et Zucc was rather safety and did not cause the renal toxicity. Nevertheless, moderate and high dosage of A. debilis Sieb.et Zucc may impair renal function and induce renal tubular-interstitial injury.

Key words: Aristolochia debilis Sieb.et Zucc., aristolochic acid, renal injury, NAG, BUN.