Efficacy of Lebanese Cannabis Oil Extract in the Treatment of Folic Acid-Induced Renal Fibrosis in Rats

Abstract

Kidney disease is a main contributor to mortality and morbidity worldwide. Renal fibrosis is the most common and final manifestation of chronic kidney disease. To date, there are no medications that target kidney cells or kidney fibrosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Cannabis oil extract in the management of renal fibrosis in Folic acid-induced renal injury model in Sprague Dawley rats. Folic acid is known to accumulate easily in large amounts in the kidney at the proximal tubule segment when compared to other tissues due to the high content of its receptors in the kidneys. Folic acid was administered as a single dose of 250 mg/kg to induce nephrotoxicity in rats. Cannabis oil extract was administered at increasing doses of 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg to the Folic acid-treated groups for 2 weeks. Another group of rats was given 20mg/Kg Cannabis oil for 5 days followed by Folic acid administration on day 6. Body weight of rats were monitored during the study, serum creatinine, urea, and electrolytes were measured as well as pathological examination of the kidney and heart. Rats that were injected with Folic acid showed a marked reduction in body weight and increase in serum creatinine in comparison to the control group. Treatment with 20mg/Kg Cannabis oil caused a significant increase in body weight compared to the Folic acid treated group. In addition, a significant decrease in serum creatinine was observed in groups receiving cannabis extract at the doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg. Serum sodium was significantly reduced in all the groups receiving Cannabis oil extract. Cannabis oil ameliorated renal and cardiac pathology abnormalities induced by Folic acid in a dose dependent manner. In conclusion, the current results reveal a potential therapeutic and protective effect of Cannabis oil extract in renal fibrosis.