Assessment of renoprotective effect of Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine against mercury-induced nephrotoxicity defects

Background: The therapeutic potential of Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine (Syn. Astercantha longifolia) against mercury-induced nephrotoxicity in rats was investigated, specifically assessing its capacity to restore altered mercury-sensitive indices in urine and isolated renal brush-border membrane preparations. Methods: Toxicity was induced in male Wistar albino rats by administering mercuric chloride (HgCl2) at 1 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally three times a week for two weeks. Following mercury induction, rats were treated with an ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Hygrophila auriculata at 100 mg/kg body weight orally for 10 days to evaluate its protective/reparative effects on kidney weight changes, urinary constituents (urea, uric acid, creatinine, and protein), urinary enzyme activities (alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, γ-glutamyl transferase, and β-D-glucuronidase), and isolated brush-border membrane enzymes. Results: Mercuric chloride administration caused significant alterations in kidney weights, elevated levels of urinary constituents, and increased activities of urinary enzymes due to cellular damage. Conversely, mercury administration resulted in a decline in the activities of isolated brush-border enzymes. Post-treatment with the ethanolic extract of Hygrophila auriculata significantly ameliorated these toxic effects and successfully improved the altered parameters toward normal levels. Conclusion: The post-treatment administration of Hygrophila auriculata demonstrates significant efficacy in protecting and maintaining renal integrity and functional parameters against mercury-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.