PROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT AND ITS SOLVENT FRACTIONS OF THE FRUITS OF SOLANUM NIGRUM (MAKO) ON GENTAMICIN-INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS

Objective: Mako (Solanum nigrum L.), Black Nightshade in English, belongs to the family Solanaceae is an edible plant. The whole plant is used as a green source of vegetables and berries as a fruit. It is a good source of antioxidant and has potent anti-inflammatory, diuretic, lithotriptic, wound healing properties. Unani scholars have advocated the berries to treat many renal ailments, including renal failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nephroprotective activity of the berries of Mako on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats to authenticate the traditional claims. Materials and Methods: Wistar rats were divided into eight groups of six animals in each, group I – control, group II toxicant (gentamicin) and III–VIII were high dose (800 mg/Kg) of methanolic extract (ME), low dose (200 mg/Kg) of ME, Petroleum soluble fraction, chloroform soluble fraction, water-soluble fraction and water-insoluble fraction of ME, respectively.  Test drugs were administered from day 1 to 8 along with toxicant from day 4 to 8. Results: At the end of the study, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Sr.Cr.) and histo-pathological analysis were carried out. It was revealed that the ME of S. nigrum and its fractions significantly reduced the rise of BUN and Sr. Cr. creatinine levels induced by gentamicin. The histopathological analysis also showed the protective nature of S. nigrum in this study. Conclusion: Biochemical parameters and histopathological results of this study confirmed that the berries have nephroprotective activity against gentamicin-induced renal damage which justifies the traditional claims.