Background: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl۴) is one of the substances that after entering the body, the bond between carbon and chlorine is broken and free radical of trichloromethyl is formed. Toxicity of
CCl۴ depends on the production of free radicals, oxidative stress and inflammatory process. Therefore, therapeutic effects of
Scrophularia striata using the animal model were evaluated in inhibiting the damage of
CCl۴ and kidney complications due to
CCl۴ toxicity. Methods: After preparing
Scrophularia striata ethanolic extract, a total of ۶۶ rats (weight ۲۲۰-۲۵۰ g) were randomly divided into ۱۱ groups as follows: control group (receiving Propylene glycol as solvent); toxic group; ۳ experimental healthy groups (receiving the extract with doses of ۱۰۰, ۲۰۰ and ۴۰۰ mg/kg bw/day); three treatment groups (receiving the extract with doses of ۱۰۰, ۲۰۰ and ۴۰۰ mg/kg bw/day); ۳ pretreatment groups (receiving the extract with doses of ۱۰۰, ۲۰۰ and ۴۰۰ mg/kg bw/day before and after toxic by
CCl۴ injection). Kidney toxicity was induced in rats by intraperitoneal
CCl۴ (۱ mg/kg bw) twice a week for ۴۰ days. Oxidative stress marker (superoxide dismutase [SOD]), malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT) activities; serum parameters such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were measured using spectrophotometric methods. The histological assessment also was performed with Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) staining. The data were analyzed by SPSS (version ۲۹) using ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results:
CCl۴ impairs serum creatinine and BUN, SOD, MDA and CAT activities in the kidney tissue significantly. Treatment with S. striata ethanolic extract, factors were close to the normal range and improved SOD, MDA and CAT in the kidney tissues. It was revealed that s. striata extract can improve these factors in the serum and renal tissue compared to the toxic group. Also, it was found that the s. striata effects were dose-dependent. Conclusions: S. striata extract has beneficial antioxidant effects on toxicity caused by CCl۴. Also, by improving of oxidative stress, S. striata may be used as adjuvant therapy for complications of the renal damages induced
CCl۴ toxicity.