Evaluation of phytoconstituents and anti-nephrotoxic and antioxidant activities of Monochoria vaginalis.

Monochoria vaginalis is an herbaceous medicinal plant used to treat, liver problems India. Acetaminophen is a commonly used analgesic and antipyretic agent which, at high doses, causes liver and kidney necrosis in man and animals. The aim of the present study is to evaluate phytoconstituents and investigate the nephroprotective & antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract of Monochoria vaginalis on acetaminophen induced toxicity in rats. Phytoconstituents like n-hexadecanoic acid, 3-methyl- acetate-1-butanol, 1,1,3-triethoxy- propane, Z,Z,Z-1,4,6,9 - nonadecatetraene, undecanoic acid, 3-trifluoroacetoxy penta decane and 4-ethyl-5-octyl-2,2-bis (trifluoromethyl) - cis-1,3-dioxalone were identified from ethanol extract of Monochoria vaginalis by using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrograph (GC MS). Biochemical studies show that there is an increase in the levels of serum urea and creatinine along with an increase in the body weight and reduction in the levels of uric acid in acetaminophen induced groups. These values are retrieved significantly by treatment with Monochoria vaginalis extracts at two different doses. The antioxidant studies reveal that the levels of renal SOD, CAT, GSH and GPx in the APAP treated animals are increased significantly along with a reduced MDA content in ethanol extract of Monochoria vaginalis treated groups. Apart from these, histopathological changes also reveal the protective nature of the Monochoria vaginalis extract against acetaminophen induced necrotic damage of renal tissues. In conclusion, these data suggest that the ethanol extract of Monochoria vaginalis can prevent renal damage from APAP induced nephrotoxicity in rats and it is likely to be mediated through active phytoconstituents and its antioxidant activities.