Abstract:
The buckthorn “Rhamnus alaternus” is a plant used in traditional medicine especially in the treatment of
certain diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and dyslipidemia. The aim of our study was to analysed and
evaluate the effects of buckthorn on nephroangiosclerosis Wistar rats. Thirty male Wistar rats, adult weighing between
120g and 250g were distributed as follows: Five control animals received a standard laboratory diet, thirty four
experimental rats received the standard laboratory diet supplemented with palm oil and 4% of NaCl (High Sold Fat
Diet). After six month of this diet the HSFD group was subdivided into rats treated for 45 days with aqueous extract of
buckthorn or animals HSFD only. Plasma metabolites and endothelin-1 concentration were measured by standard
methods, section of kidney were stained by Heindenhain-azan and periodic acid shiff. The examination of renal
parenchyma of HSFD rats showed a prominent structural changes such as, obstruction of vascular lumen, ischemia of the
glomerular and tubulo-interstitial fibrosis the biochemical and hormonal parameters were significantly improved in the
HSFD rats treated with decoction of buckthorn. Moreover, the morphogical changes of the renal parenchyma were
attenuated in rats HSFD decoction. The buckthorn attenuates renal parenchymal lesions by aggregating at different levels
of rats maintained on HSFD.
