The effect of Echinacea on kidney and liver after experimental renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in the rats

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of Echinacea on kidney and liver against oxidative stress during renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, by determining biochemical parameters and evaluating histological examinations. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated in five groups (each group consists of 8 animals). Group 1 (Control; non-ischemic animals); Group 2 (renal I/R injury+Saline), Group 3 (renal I/R injury + Echinacea, 25 mg/kg), Group 4 (renal I/R injury + Echinacea, 50 mg/kg) Group 5 (renal I/R injury+ Echinacea, 100 mg/kg) were designed to evaluate effects of Echinacea in renal I/R injury on the morphological changes in kidney and liver. A right nephrectomy was performed for I/R injury. On the 15th day following nephrectomy, ischemia and reperfusion was performed. Echinacea was administered intraperitoneally. Left kidney and liver were taken after 24 h of reperfusion period for histopathological examinations. The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities were determined from tissue homogenates. In the study, Echinacea administration in renal ischemia-reperfusion decreased MDA in kidney and liver. SOD activity was decreased with low and high doses of Echinacea treatment in both kidney and liver. Echinacea administration decreased CAT levels in kidney and no difference was observed between Echinacea doses. CAT was increased in liver low dose group. But CAT was decreased in high doses of Echinacea. Histopathological examinations showed partial improvement in the damages seen in I/R injury after Echinacea administration at both kidney and liver. Echinacea may be effective in preventing oxidative injury.