Abstract
The effect of orally administered rhubarb extract was examined in rats with chronic renal failure induced by an adenine diet. On treatment of the rats with the rhubarb extract, the level of urea nitrogen and creatinine in the serum was dose-dependently decreased. The urea concentration in the liver was also decreased after the treatment. In addition, administration of the rhubarb extract to rats produced an increase in the serum calcium level, indicating an improvement of hypocalcemia. Improvement of hyperphosphatemia was also observed. Furthermore, rhubarb extract appeared to cause a gradual decrease of the taurocyamine, guanidinosuccinic acid, and methylguanidine levels in the serum with increasing dosage. Methylguanidine was not detectable in the serum or in the kidney of the rhubarb extract-treated group given 55 mg/rat/d. A marked decrease in the liver guanidinosuccinic acid concentration was also observed. Treatment of chronically uremic rats with the rhubarb extract resulted in a normal or nearly normal serum level of branched-chain amino acids. These results suggest that rhubarb extract may be useful as a conservative treatment for uremia.
