Kidneys are essential in eliminating toxic by product from body and likewise prone to damage caused by toxins, chemicals and therapeutic drugs during their elimination. Herbal therapies have gained a lot of attention during these days due to least reported side effects. Taraxacum officinale Wigg. commonly known as Dandelion found globally and well known for its diuretic effects due to sesquiterpene lactone which is richly found in its leaves. The objective is investigation of the protective effects of Dandelion leaves extract against renal toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in male Wistar rats. Healthy age and body weight matched albino Wistar rats were allotted in random manner into three experimental groups (n=6) named as control; CCl₄ treated and CCl₄+Dandelion treated. Control group remained untreated whereas CCl₄ treated and CCl₄+Dandelion treated received CCl₄, 1mL/Kg of body weight, subcutaneously, twice in a week for 15 days. CCl₄+Dandelion treated group in addition received Dandelion leaves water extract (DLWE) orally for 15 days. Blood and tissue samples were obtained and preserved from each treated group on the 16th day of experiment for biochemical and histological analysis. The body weights of control and CCl₄ treated rats increased after 15 days of treatment whereas decreased in group B. Treating rats with CCl₄ caused renal toxicity as indicated by significantly enhanced Urea, Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)levels as compared with control. Dandelion treatment given to rats along with CCl₄ treatment showed reduced renal damage as indicated by non-significant rise in Urea, Creatinine and BUN levels as compared with control. Histological examination revealed only slight glomerular and tubular alterations in renal cortex of rats in CCl₄ treated group which were completely absent in control and CCl₄+Dandelion treated groups. Dandelion treatment decreased nephrotoxic effects of CCl₄ possibly by increasing antioxidant defense system hence this study concludes that regular intake of Dandelion along with conventional medicine can be beneficial in healing kidney injury and would improve working efficiency of kidney while preventing any damage and side effects.
Maham Zafar, Lubna Naz, Nazish Iqbal Khan, Sumera Sohail, Ghazala Yasmeen a, Nazneen Zehra. (2019) ROLE OF TARAXACUM OFFICINALE WIGG. AGAINST EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED RENAL DAMAGE THROUGH CARBON TETRACHLORIDE IN RATS, , Volume 16, Issue 2.
