Gentamicin, a common remedy for Gram-negative bacterial infections, is clinically hindered by its kidney-related drawbacks. Melodorum fruticosum Lour. (M. fruticosum), is a plant of Annonaceae family, extensively dispersed in Southeast Asia. This study investigated the renal protective effects of M. fruticosum leaves methanolic extract against gentamicin-induced kidney damage in rats. The experiment involved 40 rats divided into control, gentamicin-treated, extract-treated (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) in addition to gentamicin, and reference drug (N-acetyl cysteine, 150 mg/kg) in addition to gentamicin groups. The extract and reference drug were administered for 15 days, while gentamicin was intraperitoneally injected at 100 mg/kg over six days. Gentamicin administration elevated kidney function markers, oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death indicators. Antioxidant enzyme activities decreased, alongside histopathological changes. Both extract doses and the reference drug mitigated these effects, with the higher extract dose (400 mg/kg) showing better results. The extract's phenolic content (74.35 ± 3.43 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) was quantified following Folin-Ciocalteu procedure while flavonoid content (39.03 ± 2.15 mg catechin equivalent/g) was determined using aluminium chloride colorimetric method. Utilizing advanced, highly sensitive ultraperformance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) analysis, 39 phenolic compounds were identified in M. fruticosum extract, primarily including flavonoids and phenolic acids.

These findings position M. fruticosum extract as a potential therapeutic option for managing kidney disorders and toxicities.