Flavonoid of Drynaria fortunei protects against acute renal failure

The flavonoid fraction (FF) from Drynaria fortunei was investigated to determine its biological activity expression in three acute renal failure animal models. Guinea pigs received 100 mg/kg of gentamicin (GM group), 100 mg/kg of GM plus 10 mg/kg of FF (GMFF group), 10 mg/kg of FF (FF group) or saline (saline group) intramuscularly for 14 days. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels were found to be significantly higher in the GM group (22.70 ± 3.84 mg/ dL, 0.68 ± 0.05 mg/dL) than in the GMFF group (17.10 ± 1.04 mg/dL, 0.58 ± 0.09 mg/dL), the FF group (17.40 ± 1.01 mg/dL, 0.49 ± 0.20 mg/dL) and the saline group (17.50 ± 1.22 mg/dL, 0.50 ± 0.02 mg/dL). Mice were treated once with 6 mg/kg of mercuric chloride, followed by 10 mg/kg of FF or saline. On days 3, 4 and 5, BUN and creatinine levels were found to be significantly higher in the HgCl ₂-saline group (74.00 ± 39.20 mg/dL, 59.30 ± 31.20 mg/dL, 74.00 ± 37.30 mg/dL and 0.53 ± 0.17 mg/dL, 0.48 ± 0.15 mg/dL 0.33 ± 0.15 mg/dL) than in the HgCl²-FF group (19.50 ± 4.90 mg/dL, 43.00 ± 26.30 mg/dL, 38.50 ± 13.80 mg/dL and 0.23 ± 0.05 mg/dL, 0.30 ± 0.12 mg/dL, 0.15 ± 0.06 mg/dL). After surgery for 5/6-nephrectomy, ten mice received FF at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day and eight received saline for 42 days. The saline group survived for 12-62 days and the FF group survived for 20-320 days. The FF group had a significantly longer survival time than the saline group (p < 0.05). Regeneration of kidney tubular cells and significantly enlarged convoluted tubules were noted in the pathology study of the FF group. In conclusion, the present study suggests that FF prevents nephrotoxicity, improves kidney function and promotes kidney primary epithelial tubular cell regeneration.