Curcumin and Vitamin C Attenuate Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity by Modulating Distinctive Reactive Species

Monoterpene linalool restrains gentamicin-mediated acute kidney injury in rats by subsiding oxidative stress, apoptosis, and the NF-κB/iNOS/TNF-α/IL-1β pathway and regulating TGF-β

The clinical use of gentamicin (GM) is restricted by its nephrotoxic effects. This study aimed for the first time to elucidate the ameliorative effects of the monoterpene linalool (Lin) against GM-mediated acute kidney injury in rats. A total of thirty-two rats were subdivided into four equal groups: control (saline), Lin (100 mg/kg/day), GM (100 mg/kg/day), and GM + Lin (100 and 100 mg/kg/day). Lin and GM were intraperitoneally administered for 12 days. Our results illustrated that Lin ameliorated GM-mediated renal histopathological abnormalities and reduced serum urea and creatinine levels in rats exposed to GM. Lin treatment mitigated oxidative stress in nephrotoxic animals as manifested by reducing serum and renal levels of malondialdehyde and increasing the activities of serum and renal glutathione peroxidase and renal catalase. Moreover, Lin markedly inhibited GM-triggered inflammation by downregulating NF-κB, iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1β and reducing renal myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide levels. Interestingly, Lin repressed GM-induced apoptosis, as reflected by a marked downregulation of Bax and caspase-3 expression, concurrent with the upregulation of Bcl2 expression. Finally, Lin administration led to a significant downregulation of TGF-β expression in nephrotoxic animals. In summary, Lin ameliorated GM-mediated nephrotoxicity in rats, at least through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities and by modulating TGF-β.

Vitamin C as Scavenger of Reactive Oxygen Species during Healing after Myocardial Infarction

Currently, coronary artery bypass and reperfusion therapies are considered the gold standard in long-term treatments to restore heart function after acute myocardial infarction. As a drawback of these restoring strategies, reperfusion after an ischemic insult and sudden oxygen exposure lead to the exacerbated synthesis of additional reactive oxidative species and the persistence of increased oxidation levels. Attempts based on antioxidant treatment have failed to achieve an effective therapy for cardiovascular disease patients. The controversial use of vitamin C as an antioxidant in clinical practice is comprehensively systematized and discussed in this review. The dose-dependent adsorption and release kinetics mechanism of vitamin C is complex; however, this review may provide a holistic perspective on its potential as a preventive supplement and/or for combined precise and targeted therapeutics in cardiovascular management therapy.

The Nephroprotective Effect of Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) and Rowanberry (Sorbus aucuparia L.) in Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity on Wistar Rats with Emphasis on the Evaluation of Novel Renal Biomarkers and the Antioxidant Capacity in Correlation with Nitro-Oxidative Stress

In spite of its well-known nephrotoxicity, gentamicin is nonetheless routinely used in humans and animals. However, no adjuvant treatments have been implemented to mitigate this harmful effect. Given this concern, medicinal plants represent a significant reservoir of natural antioxidants that could potentially reduce the renal oxidative stress induced by gentamicin. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to investigate the nephroprotective properties of Cornus mas and Sorbus aucuparia fruits in an experimental model of nephrotoxicity. The 3-week study was performed on male Wistar rats, which were randomly divided into six experimental groups, being subcutaneously treated with 50 mg/kg gentamicin and orally given Cornus mas and Sorbus aucuparia extracts, in doses of 40 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Antioxidant therapy significantly improved the nitro-oxidative stress parameters as well as the specific renal biomarkers KIM-1 and iNAG, demonstrating a considerable renal tubular protective impact. These outcomes were reinforced by biochemical and histopathological enhancements. Nevertheless, neither of the tested extracts succeeded in substantially diminishing BUN levels. Additionally, CysC did not significantly decline following extracts treatment, suggesting that the remedies did not effectively protect renal glomeruli against gentamicin stress. Future studies are required in order to determine the underlying mechanisms of these berries.

Mercuric Chloride Induced Nephrotoxicity: Ameliorative Effect of Carica papaya Leaves Confirmed by Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry, and Gene Expression Studies

The present study analyzes the efficacy of the ethanolic extract of C. papaya leaves (ECP) against HgCl₂-induced nephrotoxicity. The effects on the biochemical and percentage of body and organ weight against HgCl₂-induced nephrotoxicity in female Wistar rats were studied. Wistar rats were divided into five groups with six animals in each group: control, HgCl₂ (2.5 mg/kg b.w.), N-acetylcysteine (NAC 180 mg/kg) + HgCl₂, ECP (300 mg/kg b.w.) + HgCl₂, and ECP (600 mg/kg) + HgCl₂ groups. After 28 days of study, animals were sacrificed on the 29th day to harvest the blood and kidneys for further analysis. The effect ECP was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (NGAL) and real-time PCR (KIM-1 and NGAL mRNA) in HgCl₂-induced nephrotoxicity. The results revealed that the HgCl₂ group showed prominent damage in the proximal tubules and glomerulus of nephrons and enormous expression of NGAL in immunohistochemistry and KIM-1 and NGAL in real-time PCR compared to the control group. The simultaneous pretreatment with NAC (180 mg/kg) and ECP (600 and 300 mg/kg) reduced renal damage and expression of NGAL in immunohistochemistry and KIM-1 and NGAL gene in real-time PCR. This study attests to the nephroprotective effect of ECP against HgCl₂-induced toxicity.