Nutr Res Pract.  2013 Dec;7(6):466-474.

Fenugreek seeds reduce aluminum toxicity associated with renal failure in rats

Affiliations
  • 1Laboratory of Histology and Cytogenetic (Research unit of Genetic 02/UR/08-03), Faculty of Medicine, Avenue Ibnou Sina 5000 Monastir, Tunisia. yosrabelaid@gmail.com

Abstract

Despite the reports on safety concerns regarding the relationship between aluminum salts and neurological and bone disease, many countries continue to use aluminum as phosphate binders among patients with renal failure. In search for a diet supplement that could reduce aluminum toxicity related to renal failure, we carried out this prospective animal study in which the fenugreek seeds were assessed for their effects on rats nephrotoxicity induced by aluminum chloride (AlCl3). Oral AlCl3 administration during 5 months (500 mg/kg bw i.g for one month then 1600 ppm via drinking water) led to plasma biochemical changes, an inhibition of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a decrease of total antioxidant status (TAS), and an induction of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the blood and brain, in addition to kidney atrophy and morphological alterations at the level of Bowman's capsule, the glomerulus and different sorts of tubules, reminiscent of some known kidney disease. The treatment with the whole fenugreek seed powder (FSP) (5% in the diet) during the last 2 months showed its effectiveness in restoring normal plasma values of urea, creatinine, ALP and glucose, as well as re-increasing the TAS, inhibiting LPO and alleviating histopathological changes in the injured kidneys. This study highlights the induced nephrotoxicicity, as well as the related toxicity in the brain and bone, by chronic oral ingestion of the aluminum salts. However, the maintenance of a diet supplemented with fenugreek seeds could offer protection for the kidney, bone and brain, at the same time.

Keyword

Aluminum; renal insufficiency; Trigonella foenum-graecum; rat

MeSH Terms

Alkaline Phosphatase
Aluminum Compounds
Aluminum*
Animals
Atrophy
Bone Diseases
Bowman Capsule
Brain
Chlorides
Creatinine
Diet
Drinking
Eating
Glucose
Humans
Kidney
Kidney Diseases
Lipid Peroxidation
Plasma
Prospective Studies
Rats*
Renal Insufficiency*
Salts
Trigonella*
Urea
Alkaline Phosphatase
Aluminum
Aluminum Compounds
Chlorides
Creatinine
Glucose
Salts
Urea

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Effect of FSP on LDH levels in plasma, brain and liver of AlCl3-treated rats. Values are expressed as means ± SD; n = 10 for each treatment group. Different letters above each bar indicate significant differences among groups at α = 0.05 by ANOVA test.

  • Fig. 2 Effect of FSP on TAS in plasma and brain of AlCl3-treated rats. Values are expressed as means ± SD; n = 10 for each treatment group. Different letters above each bar indicate significant differences among groups at α = 0.05 by ANOVA test.

  • Fig. 3 Effect of FSP on TBARS levels in plasma, brain and liver AlCl3-treated rats. Values are expressed as means ± SD; n = 10 for each treatment group. Different letters above each bar indicate significant differences among groups at α = 0.05 by ANOVA test.

  • Fig. 4 Light micrographs of rat kidney cortex (a, b, c) and medulla (d, e, f). Control (a, d), AlCl3-treated group (b,e) and Fenugreek + AlCl3-treated group (c, f). (a): a normal aspect of kidney cortex. (b) swelling of both distal and proximal tubules (short arrow), degeneration of cells in the lining epithelium of convoluted tubules with a partial replacement of their simple cuboidal epithelium by a simple squamous one (dotted arrow) and the disappearance of Bowman's spaces in almost all glomeruli (long arrow). (c)(d) normal aspect of the medulla. (e) retraction of the cuboidal epithelial cells which become squamous in both collecting ducts and ascendant thick segments of the loops of Henle (solid arrow), pyknotic nuclei (intensely basophilic) are observed in the collecting duct epithelium along with the loss of cytoplasm definition (dotted arrow). (f) a partial restoration of the cuboidal form of different tubules epithelium, the retrieval of Bowman's spaces and the decrease of pyknotic cells. (×320, hematoxylin-eosin staining)

  • Fig. 5 Light micrographs of PAS staining of rat kidney tissue. Control (a), AlCl3-treated group (b) and Fenugreek + AlCl3-treated group (c). (a) normal cross-section through the convoluted tubules of the cortex. (b) decrease in the brush border density which disappeared in some points leading to a swelling aspect of the proximal tubules (solid arrow) and discontinuity in tubules basement membrane (dotted arrow). (c) a clear restitution of the brush border density as well as the continuity of tubules basement membrane. (×1000)

  • Fig. 6 Light micrographs of Silver nitrate staining of rat kidney tissue. Control (a), AlCl3-treated group (b) and Fenugreek + AlCl3-treated group (c). (a) normal collagenous structures. (b) complete disappearance of Bowman's spaces (solid arrow), thinning in the tubules basement membrane which disappears sometimes (dotted arrow) and a fading of silver staining in the glomeruli. (c) normal aspect of collagenous structures. (×1000)


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