Protective Effects of Withania Somnifera Against Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Rats: A Histomorphometric Analysis

Abstract

Objective: This research aims to analyze the toxic effects of cisplatin and its amelioration by the root extract of Withania Somnifera on acute kidney injury in rat models through histomorphometric parameters.
Study Design:  Experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Anatomy and Animal House, Baqai Medical University Karachi, Pakistan, from November 2018 to February 2019.
Methods: 80 adult male Albino Wistar rats split evenly into four groups for study purposes. No intervention was administered to Group A (control group), and Group B (treatment group) was given intraperitoneal injections of Cisplatin at 1mg/kg daily for 7 days. Group C (protected group) received ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera roots in an oral dose of 500mg/kg for 15 days before cisplatin treatment and continued with it till 22^nd day. Group D (positive control group) was exclusively given Withania somnifera root extract 500mg/kg orally for 22 days’ duration. Group B was anesthetized & sacrificed on the 8^th day of study, while groups A, C, and D at the 23^rd day. Kidneys from all sacrificed animals were carefully dissected and harvested for subsequent histomorphological analysis. This included analysis of Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) count & PCT cell count under a microscope. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. One-way ANOVA was performed to compare groups, followed by post-hoc Tukey's test to assess the group differences.
Results: The final kidney weight of rats in cisplatin-treated group B showed a significant increase (P<0.05) as compared to groups C & D. However, no statistically significant differences in kidney weight were observed among the other groups (P>0.05). Microscopic examination of Group B kidneys revealed significant (P<0.05) histopathological changes in renal parenchyma. There was a decrease in the mean Proximal convoluted tubule count and Proximal convoluted tubule cell count of Cisplatin treated group.  In contrast, Group C displayed preserved renal architecture (P>0.05).
Conclusion: This study concluded that pretreatment with Withania Somnifera root extract attenuates cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury, mediated by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Histomorphological analysis revealed significant improvements in proximal tubule (PCT) count & PCT Cell count per reticule. Withania Somnifera also reduced kidney weight, which was increased due to renal parenchymal edema associated with cisplatin-induced inflammation. 

How to cite this: Rasheed A, Younus N, Jamshed N, Faisal L, Waseem N, Zeeshan RM, Shamim O. Protective Effects of Withania Somnifera Against Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Rats: A Histomorphometric Analysis. Life and Science. 2025; 6(1): 36-43. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.661