Abstract: AIM: To explore the possible protective effects of puerarin (Pue) against gentamicin (GM)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.METHODS: Male rats were i.p. administrated of Pue (50 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) or vehicle (0.9% NaCl) for 7 days before and 14 days concurrently with saline or GM (140 mg /kg, i.p.). Body weight, serum levels of creatinine (SCr) and blood ureanitrogen (BUN) and creatinine clearance rate (CCr) were assessed, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in renal tissue were determined. The renal histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.RESULTS: Compared with the control group, rats treated with GM showed decrease in body weight, Ccr, NO and the SOD activity in kidney, and a significant elevation of serum SCr, BUN and the renal MDA contents and severe morphology changes. Pue significantly reversed the changes mentioned above.CONCLUSION: Pue provide marked protective effect against GM-induced nephrotoxicity in rats, which may be related to their antagonistic effects on oxidative stress, and the increment of NO level.

Key words: Puerarin, Gentamicin, Nephrotoxicity superoxide dismutase, Malond ialdehyde, Nitric oxide