African Journal of
Pharmacy and Pharmacology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0816
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJPP
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 2274

Full Length Research Paper

Protective effects of various fractions of Launaea procumbens on molecular markers in rat kidney

Rahmat Ali Khan1,2*, Muhammad Rashid Khan2, Sumaira Sahreen2,3, Naseer Ali Shah2, Amir Muhammad Khan4, Jasia Bokhari2, Umbreen Rashid2, Bushra Ahmad2, Maria Shabbir2, Naima Saeed2, Shumaila Jan2 and Tayyaba Afsar2
1Department of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology Bannu, KPK, Pakistan. 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. 3Botanical Sciences Division, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian, Islamabad, Pakistan 4Department of Plant Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, KPK, Pakistan.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 30 December 2011
  •  Published: 22 January 2012

Abstract

Molecular markers; DNA, argyrophilic nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) and telomerase enzymes play important role in diagnosis of nephrotoxicity induced by potassium bromate (KBrO3). In the present study, the effects of Launaea procumbens against KBrO3 induced molecular changes in male rats are determined. 36 male albino rats (180 to 200 g) were divided into 6 groups. Group I was given saline (1 ml/kg body weight (b.w.), 0.85% NaCl) and DMSO (1 ml/kg b.w.); group II was treated with KBrO3 (20 mg/kg b.w., i.p.); group III, IV, V and VI were administered with KBrO3 and after 48 h with L. procumbens methanolic extract (200 mg/kg b.w. LPME), chloroform extract (200 mg/kg b.w. LPCE), ethyl acetate extract (200 mg/kg b.w. LPEE), and n-hexane extract (200 mg/kg b.w. LPHE), respectively. All the treatments were given twice a week for four weeks. The results revealed that KBrO3 induced oxidative stress as evidenced by the significant alteration in DNA, AgNORs and telomeres enzymes of kidney which was restored with various fractions of L. procumbens might be due the presence of bioactive compounds.

 

Key words: Argyrophilic nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs), Launaea procumbens, DNA, Telomerase enzymes.