Ameliorating Effect of Damiana (Turnera Diffusa) Extract against Trenbolone-induced Nephrotoxicity and Hepatotoxicity in Male Albino Rats

Anabolic steroids abuse has become one of the escalating issues in global public health as they can result in severe irreversible organ damage. Current study aimed to investigate the potential protective role of damiana extract in altering trenbolone induced- nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in rats. Fifty adult male albino rats were classified into five groups. Group I acted as a control group; group II received damiana extract (80 mg/kg body weight (BW) orally daily) for 4 weeks; group III received trenbolone (10 mg/Kg BW intramuscular injections once weekly) for 4 weeks; group IV received trenbolone and damiana together for 4 weeks; group V received trenbolone for 4 weeks then damiana for another 4 weeks. Liver and kidney specimens were studied with hematoxylin and eosin. Trenbolone prompted significant increases in water and food intake, relative BW, relative weights of kidney and liver, serum creatinine, blood urea, serum sodium, potassium, chloride levels, liver enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. In contrast, significant decreases in calcium level and serum albumin were recorded in trenbolone group. Liver and kidney tissues revealed a significant increase in malondialdehyde and significant reductions in reduced glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Also, trenbolone caused marked inflammation and degeneration in liver and kidney tissues. Meanwhile, administration of damiana improved significantly the above-mentioned toxic effects of trenbolone. Trenbolone induced oxidative-nephrotoxic and -hepatotoxic effects in rats that evidently improved via the efficient antioxidant properties of damiana. This highlights the possibility of using damiana extract as a protective agent against trenbolone toxicity.