Preventive effect of crude drug preparation (E-kong-san) on cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity

Nephroprotective effects of a crude drug-preparation (Ekongsan) were determined from cisplatin induced renal injury in vivo and in vitro. Ekongsan decreased cisplatin induced the cytotoxicity on rabbit kidney proximal tubule and human renal cortical cells by MTT assays and sustained glucose consumption on cisplatin-induced human renal cortical tissue. Levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in serum after administration of cisplatin (0.75 mg/kg. i.p.) to Ekongsan (0.75 g/kg/d, p.o.)-pretreated rats were markedly lower compared to those of cisplatin-treated rats. Moreover, the administration of Ekongsan significantly inhibited the loss of body weight of cisplatin-injected rats. These findings suggest that Ekongsan is an active prescription in protection against nephrotoxicity of cisplatin.