Effects of Anethole on Renal Function of Swiss Mice.

Anethole, a terpenoid with several pharmacologic effects, is the major constituent of the essential oil of (EOCz), Pax & K. Hoffm, Euphorbiaceae. Due to the mild renal toxicity associated with high doses of EOCz, its potential therapeutic effects on several diseases, and the fact that its chemical composition consists of 80% anethole, the renal effects of anethole in mice were investigated. Mice were randomly divided into eight groups, dosed daily as follows: Group 1-CTRL (control; vehicle only); Groups 2-A100, 3-A125, and 4-A250 (dosed with 100, 125 twice daily, and 250 mg/kg, anethole); Group 5-AKI (i.p. albumin to induce hyperproteinemia and proteinuria; subclinical acute kidney injury); and Groups 6-AKI+A100, 7-AKI+A125, and 8-AKI+A250 ( anethole + i.p. albumin). The A125 and A250 groups significantly increased urinary proteinuria and interstitial inflammation ( < 0.001, for these groups). AKI+A100, AKI+A125, and AKI+A250 showed a neither protective nor additive effect in the proteinuria induced by anethole and by administered albumin. The anethole-induced proteinuria was spontaneously reversible in approximately 4 weeks. In vitro experiments showed that anethole (300 µg/mL) inhibits albumin uptake from the culture medium by tubular cells. Anethole at high doses bears renal acute toxicity that, although mild and spontaneously fully reversible, must be taken into consideration in a cost-benefit analysis.