Role of quercetin on hepatic urea production in acute renal failure

Ren Fail. 2003 Mar;25(2):149-55. doi: 10.1081/jdi-120018716.

Abstract

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a serious damage of renal function induced by various nephrotoxic drugs, ischemia, bilateral urethral obstruction, trauma and unilateral nephrectomy. Dramatic clinical syndrome, azotemia, develops as a result of hypovolemia, oliguria, reduced glomerular filtration and acidosis. In addition to classic medications recent studies give more attention to beneficial effect of natural plant products as bioflavonoids. We have studied the influence of bioflavonoid, quercetin, on hepatic urea production in glycerol induced ARF in the rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were used in the experiment. The value of urea production in the liver was determined by measuring of liver arginase activity, the terminal enzyme of urea cycle. Arginase activity was increased (p < 0.01) as well as urea level (p < 0.001) 48 h after glycerol administration. Pretreatment by quercetin suppressed the arginase activity in the liver (p < 0.05) and plasma levels of urea (p < 0.01). So, we have concluded that quercetin may be beneficial in glycerol induced ARF.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / chemically induced
  • Acute Kidney Injury / drug therapy*
  • Acute Kidney Injury / enzymology*
  • Animals
  • Arginase / analysis*
  • Arginase / drug effects*
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Cryoprotective Agents / adverse effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Flavonoids / therapeutic use*
  • Glycerol / adverse effects
  • Liver / chemistry*
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Male
  • Quercetin / pharmacology*
  • Quercetin / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Urea / blood*

Substances

  • Cryoprotective Agents
  • Flavonoids
  • Urea
  • Quercetin
  • Creatinine
  • Arginase
  • Glycerol