RESUMO
The serious adverse effects, such as nephrotoxicity, limit the clinical utility of anticancer doxorubicin (DOX) drug. Cichorium endivia L. is reputed to show antioxidive effectiveness. The present investigation was conducted to explore the nephroprotective potential of crude methanol extract of Cichorium endivia (CECE) pretreatment against DOX-induced nephrotoxicity. Randomly, twenty male Wistar rats were assigned into four groups: Control (no-treatment), DOX group (15mg/kg, i.p, once), DOX + CECE (100mg/kg) and DOX + CECE (200mg/kg). All experiments were performed for 15 consecutive days except for DOX, was delivered once on day twelve. Samples of kidney and serum were collected one day after the last treatment for further assays. Pretreatment with CECE significantly protected the kidney function from DOX toxicity. Urea and creatinine levels were reduced in the serum. Furthermore, CECE administration decreased the damage in the renal histological structure. Restoration of the renal corpuscle and tubules structures was more manifested in a high dose (200mg/kg) of CECE. In summary, these findings demonstrate the nephroprotective effect of CECE pretreatment in DOX-treated rats.