Abstract The kidneys are organs of vital importance for the organism since they oversee maintaining the hydro-electrolytic balance and therefore the homeostasis of the organism. Therefore, damage to this organ, such as acute kidney injury, endangers people's lives, can become a long-term problem, and represent an excessive spending for health systems Medicinal plants, among them Allophylus edulis, are used in folk medicine to treat kidney and liver conditions. This research aimed to evaluate the activity of the ethanolic extract of Allophylus edulis (Sapindaceae), on gentamicin-induced nephritis in mice. The experiments were carried out in female mice, 135 mg/kg (i.p.) of gentamicin was used to induce kidney damage. Silymarin was used as a control drug for renal protection. Ethanolic extract of A. edulis was administered per os, at 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. To estimate renal functionality, creatinine, urea, and uric acid were determined in serum. Also, in urine were determined creatinine, urea, and uric acid, besides sodium, potassium, and chloride. A. edulis induced a reduction in the serum levels of creatinine, urea, and uric acid (p<0.05) in mice with renal damage induced by gentamicin when these animals were previously treated with 50 mg/kg of the extract. The reduction was significant compared to the pathological group, and these values were close to the group treated with silymarin. Also, creatinine and urea in urine of mice treated with the extract showed lower level than gentamicin treated group. Therefore, in the model used, the ethanolic extract of Allophylus edulis showed a nephroprotective effect.

ABSTRACT Obesity is the most frequent metabolic disorder, for the treatment is fundamental to change the type of food and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Misleading advertising of so-called miraculous products leads to excessive, uncontrolled consumption and without prior evaluation of the effect on weight or their possible toxicity. A preliminary investigation was designed in mice, to verify the effect of the juice of Aloe barbadensis and a commercial product on the weight of normal and obese mice induced by monosodium glutamate(MSG),after four weeks of treatment. The group of mice induced to obesity with MSGhad a weight change percentage of 160.5 ± 37.5%, while in the group with normal body weight was of 59.4 ± 12.1%, this difference was significant (p<0,001). In the obese mice that received the juice of A. barbadensis, a non-significant weight decrease of 2.8% was achieved when compared with the weight at the beginning of the intervention (p(0.05). In obese mice treated with the commercial product,an increase in weight was observed, although in a smaller proportion than the obese ones that received water (3.5% and 4.4%, respectively). The results indicated that Aloe barbadensis juice induced a greater weight loss in obese animals, compared to the commercial product, however, this is not significant in the period considered.

RESUMEN La obesidad es el trastorno metabólico más frecuente, para el tratamiento es fundamental el cambio del tipo alimentación y mantener un estilo de vida saludable. La publicidad engañosa sobre productos denominados milagrosos conlleva a un consumo desmedido, no controlado y sin previa evaluación de los resultados sobre el peso y/o la posible toxicidad de los mismos. Se diseñó una investigación preliminar en ratones, para verificar el efecto del zumo de Aloe barbadensis y un producto comercial sobre el peso de ratones normopesos y obesos inducidos por glutamato monosódico (GMS), después de cuatro semanas de tratamiento. El grupo de ratones inducidos a obesidad con GMS, presentaron un porcentaje de cambio de peso de 160,5±37,5%, mientras que en el grupo de ratones normopesos fue de 59,4±12,1%, esta diferencia resultó significativa (p<0,001). En los ratones obesos que recibieron el zumo de A.barbadensis se logró un descenso no significativo de peso de 2,8% con respecto al peso al inicio de la intervención (p (0,05). En los ratones obesos tratados con el producto comercial se observó un aumento de peso, aunque en menor proporción que los obesos que recibieron agua (3,5% y 4,4%, respectivamente). Los resultados indican que el zumo de Aloe barbadensis induce un descenso de peso mayor en los animales obesos, comparado con el producto comercial, sin embargo, esto no es significativo en el periodo de observación.