A novel pharmacological strategy using nanoparticles with glutathione and virgin coconut oil to treat gentamicin-induced acute renal failure in rats

In acute renal failure (ARF), the glomerular filtration rate is reduced, and nitrogenous waste products accumulate persistently, which can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. There is hope for a reversal of the rapid loss of renal function caused by this condition. This study, with gentamicin-induced acute ARF as a prospective setting, sets out to examine the reno-protective benefits of virgin coconut oil (VCO) and GSH. Furthermore, the study evaluated the effect of medication nanoparticle compositions on several kidney function markers. The induction of ARF is achieved with the intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin. To assess renal function, rats underwent 24 h of dehydration and hunger before their deaths. The study examined various aspects, including kidney function tests, markers of oxidative stress, histology of kidney tissue, inflammatory cytokines, immunohistochemistry expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and specific biomarkers for kidney tissue damage, such as kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). The results of our study indicated that the combination of VCO and GSH, using both regular and nanoparticle formulations, had a better protective impact on the kidneys compared to using either drug alone. The recovery of renal tissue and serum markers, which are symptomatic of organ damage, indicates improvement. This was also demonstrated by the reduction in tubular expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, KIM-1, and NGAL. The immunohistochemical studies showed that the combination therapy, especially with the nanoforms, greatly improved the damaged cellular changes in the kidneys, as shown by higher levels of NF-κB. The study shows that VCO and GSH, when administered individually or combined, significantly improve ARF in a gentamicin-induced rat model, highlighting potential therapeutic implications. Notably, the combined nanoparticulate formulations exhibit substantial effectiveness.

Virgin Coconut Oil Resists Arsenic-Induced Cerebral Neurotoxicity and Cholesterol Imbalance via Suppression of Oxidative Stress, Adenosine Deaminase and Acetylcholinesterase Activities in Rats

Arsenic (As) is a classic neurotoxicant; its pathogenesis is associated with oxidative stress and oxidative stress-mediated cholinergic deficits. This study explored antioxidant activity of virgin coconut oil (VCO) against sodium arsenite-induced oxidative stress-mediated cerebral neurotoxicity in rats. Eighteen rats were divided into 3 groups- Normal control, As control and VCO + As. The VCO (5 mL/kg) was given once daily by oral gavage from day 1 to day 21, while As (10 mg/kg) was given once daily by oral gavage from day 15 to day 21. Cerebral superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), adenosine deaminase (ADA) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activities were analysed. Nitric oxide (NO), lipid profile, phospholipid (PL), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were also evaluated in cerebral homogenate. The cerebrum was sectioned for histological analysis. Administration of As induced significant depressions in antioxidant enzymes, GSH, PL, and HDL-c compared to normal control. Levels of MDA, NO, total cholesterol and activities of ADA, AchE in the cerebrum were markedly increased by As compared to normal rats. Lipid profile indices and PL were prominently altered by As. Histopathological study supported the biochemical findings through extensive cerebral damage. In contrast, oral supplementation of VCO prior to and along with As treatment significantly attenuated the As-induced biochemical alterations and restored near-normal histology. VCO attenuates cerebral neurotoxicity by strengthening endogenous antioxidant defence and cholinergic function via counteracting free-radical-mediated arsenic toxicity.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects of virgin coconut oil against antibiotic drug gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity via the suppression of oxidative stress and modulation of iNOS/NF-ĸB/caspase-3 signaling pathway in Wistar rats

Gentamicin is an effective antibiotic against severe infections; however, its major side effect is oxidative nephrotoxicity. We explored whether virgin coconut oil (VCO) could mitigate gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Rats were fed with VCO-supplemented diet for 16 days against renal toxicity induced by gentamicin (100 mg/kg bw, ip) from Day 11 to 16. Gentamicin caused marked elevated serum urea, uric acid, and creatinine levels, followed by considerable depletion in renal antioxidant enzymes, glutathione (GSH), while the malondialdehyde (MDA) level increased significantly. It significantly increased renal cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) levels, confirmed by renal histopathology. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-ĸB), and caspase-3 was prominently increased. VCO-supplemented diet significantly modulated the levels of biochemical indices, downregulated the expression of NO, iNOS, NF-ĸB, caspase-3, cytokines, and alleviated histopathological lesions. VCO protects against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity; thus, it could be a promising dietary supplement for patients undergoing gentamicin treatment. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Gentamicin is an efficacious clinical antibiotic used against severe infections; however, the robust body of evidence indicates that the nephrotoxic side effect constrained its use. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is an edible oil with growing human consumption and pharmacological effects. Our study has reported herein, for the first time, that VCO diet prevented the nephrotoxicity of gentamicin. Dietary supplementation of this oil could be beneficial in alleviating the nephrotoxic side effect of gentamicin in patients.