International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780251120140820136063ENWater and Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranDepartment of Nutrition, University of Nantes, Nantes, FranceDepartment of Nutrition, University of Nantes, Nantes, FranceDepartment of Clinical Pathology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranWater and Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranWater and Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranWater and Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran2014082020140820<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gentamicin (GM) is used as antibiotic for Gram-negative infections, but its administration is limited due to a side-effect of nephrotoxicity. It was attempted to investigate the effect of <em>Althaea officinalis </em>flower extract (AOFE) against nephrotoxicity induced by GM in male rats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>30-year-old male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 as a negative control group received AOFE 250 mg/kg/day. Groups 2-5 received saline, AOFE 50 mg/kg/day, AOFE 250 mg/kg/day, and AOFE 500 mg/kg/day for 9 days, respectively, and GM (100 mg/kg/day) was added from the 3rd day on. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were obtained, animals were sacrificed, and the kidneys were removed immediately.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Gentamicin (in group 2) significantly increased serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine as well as the pathological damage score (<em>P </em>&lt; 0.05) when compared with group 1. Low dose of AOFE did not decrease the nephrotoxicity induced by GM while the high dose of AOFE aggravated renal toxicity (<em>P </em>&lt; 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although AOFE acts as an antioxidant, at the doses used in the current study did not ameliorate nephrotoxicity induced by GM.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Gentamicin, <em>Althaea officinalis</em>, nephrotoxicity, rat</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1427http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1427/1714