Renoprotective effect of Otostegia persica on vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Vancomycin (VCM), as a glycopeptide antibiotic, is commonly used against serious and life-threatening bacterial infections. Nephrotoxicity is the most important complication of VCM in which free radicals play an important role in its pathophysiology. Thus, the aim of this research was to examine effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Otostegia persica on nephrotoxicity of VCM in rats. Thirty male Wistar rats were at random divided into 5 groups. The control group was given normal saline. The other groups were treated every 12 h for 7 consecutive days with VCM (200 mg/kg i.p.) alone, VCM (200 mg/kg i.p.) plus Otostegia persica (250 mg/kg), VCM (200 mg/kg i.p.) plus Otostegia persica (500 mg/kg) and VCM (200 mg/kg i.p.) plus vitamin E (250 mg/kg). The extract and vitamin E were administered 30 min prior to VCM. Nephrotoxicity was evaluated biochemically and histopathologically. The results showed that VCM significantly increased excretion of red blood cell (RBC) in urine, serum levels of urea, creatinine, and MDA, and the ratio of weight kidney to body weight (p <.05). Creatinine clearance also markedly decreased compared to the normal group (p <.01), whereas the serum levels of sodium and potassium remain unchanged. Otostegia persica (500 mg/kg) similar to vitamin E significantly attenuated elevation in the serum levels of urea, creatinine, and MDA (p < 0.01). The extract and vitamin E also improved creatinine clearance and the proportion of weight kidneys to body weight (p <.01). The pathological finding confirmed the biochemical findings. The present data confirmed that Otostegia persica has beneficial effects to ameliorate VCM-induced nephrotoxicity in rats, which may be attributable to its antioxidant properties. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.