J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2015;27(2) http://www.jamc.ayubmed.edu.pk 398 ORIGINAL ARTICLE THE EFFECT OF FICUS CARICA L. (ANJIR) LEAF EXTRACT ON GENTAMICIN INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN ADULT MALE ALBINO MICE Ammara Ghafoor, Mohammad Tahir, Khalid Pervez Lone*, Bushra Faisal, Waqas Latif** Department of Anatomy, *Department of Physiology, **Quality Enhancement Cell, University of Health Sciences, Lahore-Pakistan Background: Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside isolated from Micromonospora purpurea known for its nephrotoxicity. Ficus carica L is known to treat many ailments. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Ficus carica L. (Anjir) leaf extract on renal oxidative stress induced by gentamicin in albino mice. Methods: In this laboratory based experimental study 30 mice were divided into three groups, containing 10 mice each. Group A being the control; groups B and C were experimental and treated with gentamicin 200 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally and, Ficus carica L. leaf extract 400 mg/kg/day orally with gentamicin 200 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally respectively for a period of 8 days. Blood samples were taken 24 hours after completion of the experimental period by cardiac puncture under anesthesia and kidneys of each mouse were taken out for microscopic examination. Results: Gentamicin treatment increased serum urea and creatinine levels (group B). Ficus carica L. leaf extract treated animals showed significant reduction in biochemical markers of kidney functions in group C. The histopathological examination of group A showed normal renal structure which was deranged in group B treated with only gentamicin, whereas, group C exhibited marked improvement in histological structure. Conclusion: Ficus carica L. leaf extract is effective in preventing gentamicin induced functional and structural changes in kidney of albino mice. Keywords: Gentamicin, Ficus carica (Anjir), Histopathology, Nephroprotection. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2015;27(2):398–401 INTRODUCTION Acute renal failure is a major side effect of aminoglycosides and accounts for 10–20% of patients using this medicine. 1 Aminoglycosides are also used to treat gram negative enteric bacterial infections like bacteremia and sepsis. Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside isolated from Micromonospora purpurea. It has a hexose ring to which various amino sugars are attached by glycosidic linkages. 2 The most common toxic effects of gentamicin are nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. 3 Gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity is characterized by raised plasma creatinine and urea levels with severe necrosis of renal proximal convoluted tubules followed by failure of renal functions. 4 Nephrotoxicity is due to a selective accumulation of gentamicin in renal cortical areas. At ultrastructural level, the earliest lesion is observed in lysosomes due to accumulation of myeloid bodies. 5 Several agents such as, corn silk extract 6 , probucol 7 , melatonin 8 and Arabic gum 4 having antioxidant property have been used against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity. Ficus is one of the largest genera of angiosperms, with almost 800 species of terrestrial trees, shrubs, hemi-epiphytes, climbers and creepers occurring in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 9 Ficus carica L. is one of the unique Ficus species, widely occurring in tropical and subtropical countries and has an edible fruit of high commercial value. In common clinical practice Ficus carica L. roots have been found useful in the treatment of leukoderma and ringworm infections, and its fruit has been known for its antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, purgative and aphrodisiac properties. It is also used in the treatment of paralysis 10 , gout and is known to be curative in liver and spleen disorders 11 . The leaves of Ficus carica L. are used for treating painful and swollen piles by steam bath which is prepared by adding the leaves to the boiling water. Leaves are also useful as a decoction to treat diabetic patients and calcifications in kidneys and liver. 12 MATERIAL AND METHODS In this laboratory based experimental study, 30 adult male albino mice, 6–8 weeks old and weighing 30 gm±5 gm were obtained from Veterinary Research Institute, Lahore. They were randomly divided into three groups, each containing ten mice. They were weighed in the beginning and then at the end of the experiment; and housed in Experimental Research Laboratory of University of Health Sciences, Lahore under controlled room temperature (23±2 °C) and humidity (55%±5%). The light and dark cycle were maintained for 12 hours each. Animal were fed on standard mouse diet, water ad libitum and allowed to acclimatize for one week before starting the experiment. The stock solution was prepared by dissolving 1200 mg of gentamicin in 60 ml of distilled water (20 mg/ml). The solution was stored in a refrigerator at 3–4 °C and was administered at