RESUMO
RELEVANCE: Rudgea viburnoides, popularly known as "congonha-de-bugre" or "erva de bugre", is used in folk medicine as hypotensive, blood depurative, anti-rheumatic, diuretic and in the treatment of kidney and bladder pain. AIM: Based on the popularly acclaimed nephron-protective effect of R. viburnoides, we investigated, using rats, the protective effect of this plant extract on gentamicin-induced kidney injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Urinary volume, water and food intakes were assessed in adult male Wistar rats (naive or gentamicin-induced model of nephrotoxicity) treated with R. viburnoides extract. Also blood and kidney samples were collected for further laboratory and histological analyses. RESULTS: R. viburnoides leaves extract improved renal function. It also improved the renal function impairments caused by gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity, as revealed by glomerular filtration rate, urine output and proteinuria. CONCLUSION: R. viburnoides exert renoprotective effect, which may support its popular use for renal diseases treatment.