Renal Injury Reversed by Myrtus communis L. Extract Administration in Rats with Bile Duct Ligation

Background and Aims: Myrtus communis L. (MC) is a plant with therapeutic properties on various tissues. In individuals with liver disease and hepatic failure, there is a risk of developing progressive kidney failure. This underscores the critical importance of monitoring and managing these patients' liver and kidney health. The bile duct ligation (BDL) model enables rapid study of renal function changes. This study aimed to identify the potential protective and reversible effects of MC leaf extract on the kidneys of rats.Methods: The rats were divided into the control group (C), C+MC group, BDL group, and BDL+MC group. After sacrifice, kidney samples were examined through several biochemical analyses. Haematoxylin and eosin staining was used for light microscopic investigations.Results: In the BDL group, increased lipid peroxidation levels, myeloperoxidase, and tissue factor activities were found, whereas decreased glutathione levels, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities were found compared to the C and C+MC groups. In addition, increased sialic acid levels were detected in the BDL group compared to the C group. MC extract significantly reversed these changes compared to the BDL group. The biochemical results supported the histological findings.Conclusion: The beneficial effects of MC on kidney tissue may be due to recovered liver function or its direct action on it. MC may be a promising candidate for further investigation in the treatment and prevention of BDL-induced renal injury.