Nephrotoxicity of hydroalcoholic extract of Teucrium polium in Wistar rats

Background and objectives: teucrium polium l. (calpoureh) is a wild-growing flowering plant, found abundantly in south-west of asia, europe and north africa. traditionally, teucrium polium l. (calpoureh) has been used for different pathological conditions. in traditional iranian medicine, the tea of teucrium polium l. is used for treating many diseases such as type 2 diabetes. it is believed that this plant has beneficial therapeutic properties. however, further studies are necessary to identify its toxic effects. the aim of this study was to evaluate the nephrototoxicity of hydroalcoholic extract of t. polium in male wistar rats. methodology: in this experimental study, 100 rats were divided into 10 groups of ten each. five groups were injected intraperitoneally (ip), 50, 100, 150, 200 mg/kg extracts or normal saline for 28 days and sacrificed to study the probable kidney damage. five other groups were injected the same drug regimen, but they were sacrificed 28 days after cessation of drug injections to investigate the effect of possible complication or regeneration during recovery. results: following 28 days of t. polium consumption (phase i), kidney damages were not increased in comparison with control group (p > 0.05). however, following 28 days of drug cessation, kidney damages including degeneration, destruction and vacuolization, appeared in comparison with control group and with increasing the doses of tp. conclusion: due to nephrotoxicity, t. polium should not be used or should be consumed with great caution.