Background:

Kidney is a vital organ which plays an important and irreplaceable role in detoxification and removal of xenobiotics. And therefore is vulnerable to develop various forms of injuries. Hence, making it immensely important to search for natural reno-protective compounds.

Objectives:

This study therefore, aims to evaluate the reno-protective properties of propolis against gentamicin induced renal toxicity in mice.

Methods:

Three groups of 10 male mice each were used for this study. First group served as control, the second group (Gm group) was administered orally 80 mg/kg body weight gentamicin for 7 days, and the third group (GmP group) was administered same dose of gentamicin with propolis (500 mg/kg body weight) for 7 days. Various parameters were used to study the renal toxicity.

Results:

Gentamicin caused significant renal damage as evident by the rise in BUN levels, diminished glomeruli hypocellularity, moderately dilated tubules, and mild loss of brush border, severe infiltration, extensive tubular degeneration and presence of tubular cast. Histochemistry results show presence of collagen and reticular fibres. Immunohistochemical reactions show kidney injury (Kim-1 gene-expression), oxidative stress (MDA gene-expression), and an increase in apoptosis (caspase-3 gene-expression). Co-administration of propolis with gentamicin showed significant decrease in BUN levels, appearance of healthy glomeruli with normal cellularity, reduction of tubular injury, decrease of collagen and reticular fibres deposition, reduction of apoptosis, kidney injury and oxidative stress.

Conclusion:

Results presented in this study clearly show the reno-protective role of propolis against gentamicin-induced toxicity on mice kidney.