GENTAMYCIN-INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN CHICKENS: MODULATORY ROLE OF MORINGA OLEIFERA

The aim of the present study was to determine whether Moringa oleifera (MOR) leaf powder, have a modulatory effect against gentamicin (GEN)-induced nephrotoxicity in chickens or not. Twenty laying hens were equally divided into four groups: First group (CON) received standard basal diet only. Second group (GEN) was injected with GEN (50mg/kg body weight, intramuscularly (i.m.), twice daily, for 5 consecutive days). Third group (GEN+MOR) was supplemented with MOR leaf powder (10gm/kg diet) daily for 12 consecutive days and injected with GEN (50mg/kg body weight, i.m., twice daily, for 5 consecutive days) starting from the day 8. Fourth group (MOR) was supplemented with MOR leaf powder (10gm/kg diet) daily for 12 consecutive days. GEN administration increased serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and malonaldehyde (MDA) and decreased total protein, albumin, reduced glutathione (GSH) content as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities indicating nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, histopathological findings revealed marked tubular vacuolar degeneration, focal interstitial mononuclear cells infiltrations, congestion, focal cystic change and tubular necrosis in GEN-treated kidneys. However, MOR leaf powder supplementation with GEN administration caused significant decrease of serum Cr, BUN, and MDA and increase of total protein, albumin, GSH, SOD, GPx, and CAT compared with GEN alone. Moreover, GEN+MOR treated group showed slight focal interstitial mononuclear cells infiltrations in renal tissues. These findings suggested that dietary supplementation of MOR leaf powder may prevent or reduce the GEN-induced nephrotoxicity.