author(s)
T Rajendrakumar, Suguna Rao, ML Satyanarayana, HD Narayanaswamy and SM Byregowda

abstract
The role of ethanolic extract of Andrographis paniculata [AP], in preventing cisplatin [CP] induced histopathological changes in renal tissue was evaluated in 60 Wistar albino rats. Five equal-sized groups of rats were used as control, recipient of CP alone, recipient of AP alone, pre recipient of AP for 15 days prior to CP and concurrent treatment of AP with CP. CP was administered at 7.5 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally for single dose. AP was at the dose of 500mg/kg body weight by oral gavaging for 45 days. Histopathological examination of kidney was carried out on 7^th, 14^th, 28^th and 45^th day. Results documented that, CP produced severe congestion of tubular vessels, vacuolar degeneration, necrosis, apoptosis of renal cells, distension of the tubules and inflammatory cell infiltration. The AP treatment groups revealed improvement in the kidney architecture, while pretreatment of AP produced the much earlier amelioration of the pathological changes. The study indicated that, prior administration of AP inhibited the CP induced kidney injury and has good prophylactic effect.