Effect of embelin on lithium–induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in albino rats

Objective: To evaluate the nephroprotective and anti-polyuric role of embelin on lithium\udinduced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) in albino rats. Methods: NDI induced by lithium\udchloride (4 meq/kg/day, i.p. for 6 days) which leads to huge amount of urine excretion. After\udinduction of NDI, embelin (50 and 100mg/kg) was administered orally, once daily for 21 day in\udrats and N-acetyl cysteine (10mg/kg, twice daily, i.p.) was used as a standard drug for treatment\udof NDI. The body weight, urine protein, urine creatinine, plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen\udwere assessed at 0, 7, 14 and 21 day. At the end of the study glutathione (GSH) content in kidney\udwas assessed and histopathology of kidney was performed. Results: Embelin 50 and 100 mg/\udkg showed increase in the body weight and decrease in plasma and urine creatinine, blood\udurea nitrogen levels, and urine protein level. Embelin acts as a potent antioxidant; it increases\udthe level of glutathione in kidney. Histopathological examination of the kidney indicated that\udembelin 50 and 100 mg/kg were reduced the vascular degeneration of tubules as well as slight\uddegeneration and dilatation of renal tubules, however N-actyl cysteine (NAC) treated rats showed\udnormal glomeruli and renal tubule with slight degeneration. Conclusions: Embelin seemed to be\udeffective in NDI by its predominant effect on promoting antioxidant status and decrease the urine\udexcretion may be due to the blocking of sodium channels