The Nephroprotective Effects of the Herbal Medicine Preparation, WH30⁺, on the Chemical-Induced Acute and Chronic Renal Failure in Rats

In this study, we evaluated the renal protective effects of a Chinese herbal preparation WH30⁺ in male Wistar rats with glycerol-induced acute renal failure and adenine-induced chronic renal failure. WH30⁺ is a Chinese herb preparation composed of Rheum Palmatum, Salvia Miltiorrhiza, Cordyceps Sinensis, Leonurus Sibiricus, Epihedium Macranthum, Radix Astragali, and Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae, which has been used to treat kidney deficiency in human. An acute renal failure and chronic renal failure rat model were introduced by glycerol injection (i.m.) and fed with adenine-excessive diet, respectively. WH30⁺ was administered to rats at the dose of 50 mg/kg/day from 10 days before the diseases were induced until the rats were sacrificed. A reduction in body weight (p < 0.01) was observed in rats with chronic renal failure, but there was no difference between treatment groups. However, the body weight of rats with acute renal failure without treatment was significantly lower than those treated with WH30⁺ (p < 0.05). Overall, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were elevated significantly (p < 0.01) in renal failure rats compared to control. Treatment with WH30⁺ improved both serum creatinine and urea nitrogen slightly in both models. The WH30⁺-treated rats with acute renal failure had significantly (p < 0.05) greater creatinine clearance than those without treatment. The results of the study show that WH30⁺ is more effective in the prevention of acute renal failure than chronic renal failure.