Protective effects of lutein against vancomycin-induced acute renal injury in mice via upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and inhibition nuclear factor-kappaB/caspase 3

Reno-protective effect of fenofibrate and febuxostat against vancomycin-induced acute renal injury in rats: Targeting PPARγ/NF-κB/COX-II and AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways

BACKGROUND

Vancomycin (VCM) is used clinically to treat serious infections caused by multi-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, although its use is severely constrained by nephrotoxicity. This study investigated the possible nephroprotective effect of febuxostat (FX) and/or fenofibrate (FENO) and their possible underlying mechanisms against VCM-induced nephrotoxicity in a rat model.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups; Control, VCM, FX, FENO, and combination groups. Nephrotoxicity was evaluated histopathologically and biochemically. The oxidative stress biomarkers (SOD, MDA, GSH, total nitrite, GPx, MPO), the apoptotic marker, renal Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), and inflammatory and kidney injury markers (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, Nrf2, OH-1, kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), NADPH oxidase, Kim-1, COX-II, NGAL, Cys-C were also evaluated.

RESULTS

VCM resulted in significant elevation in markers of kidney damage, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory markers. Co-administration of VCM with either/or FX and FENO significantly mitigated nephrotoxicity and associated oxidative stress, inflammatory and apoptotic markers. In comparison to either treatment alone, a more notable improvement was observed with the FX and FENO combination regimen.

CONCLUSION

Our findings show that FX, FENO, and their combination regimen have a nephroprotective impact on VCM-induced kidney injury by suppressing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and the inflammatory response. Renal recovery from VCM-induced injury was accomplished by activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and inhibition of NF-κB expression. This study highlights the importance of FX and FENO as effective therapies for reducing nephrotoxicity in VCM-treated patients.

Protective effects of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) on vancomycin-induced oxidative nephrotoxic damage in rats

CONTEXT

Vancomycin (VCM), an important antibiotic against refractory infections, has been used to treat secondary infections in severe COVID-19 patients. Regrettably, VCM treatment has been associated with nephrotoxicity. Vitamin D₃ can prevent nephrotoxicity through its antioxidant effect.

OBJECTIVE

This study tests the antioxidant effect of vitamin D₃ in the prevention of VCM-induced nephrotoxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wistar Albino rats (21) were randomly divided into 3 groups: (A) control; (B) VCM 300 mg/kg daily for 1 week; and (C) VCM plus vitamin D₃ 500 IU/kg daily for 2 weeks. All the rats were sacrificed and serum was separated to determine kidney function parameters. Their kidneys were also dissected for histological examination and for oxidative stress markers.

RESULTS

Lipid peroxidation, creatinine, and urea levels decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) in the vitamin D₃-treated group (14.46, 84.11, 36.17%, respectively) compared to the VCM group that was given VCM (MIC<2 μg/mL) only. A significant increase was observed in superoxide dismutase levels in the vitamin D₃-treated group (p < 0.05) compared to rats without treatment. Furthermore, kidney histopathology of the rats treated with vitamin D₃ showed that dilatation, vacuolization and necrosis tubules decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared with those in the VCM group. Glomerular injury, hyaline dystrophy, and inflammation improved significantly in the vitamin D₃ group (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, respectively) compared with the VCM group.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D₃ can prevent VCM nephrotoxicity. Therefore, the appropriate dose of this vitamin must be determined, especially for those infected with COVID-19 and receiving VCM, to manage their secondary infections.

Effect of dietary lutein on the egg production, fertility, and oxidative injury indexes of aged hens

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary lutein on egg production, follicles, reproductive hormones, fertility, hatchability, and oxidative injury indexes of hens.

METHODS

Treatments consisted of a control diet (CON) and three lutein-supplementing diets at 25 (L1), 50 (L2), or 75 (L3) mg/kg of diet. Egg production was measured using 576 Arbor Acres breeder hens at 61 to 65 wk and follicles grades, reproductive hormones, fertility, hatchability, tissue lutein contents, and oxidative injury indexes were determined at 65 wk.

RESULTS

The results showed that at 65 wk, lutein- supplementing diets increased (p<0.05) egg production, follicular grades, fertility, hatchability, estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone, progesterone (PROG), lutein content in the serum and yolk, compared to CON. L2 and L3 showed more pronounced (p<0.05) effects on egg production, PROG, and yolk lutein content than L1. With the increase of lutein doses from 25 to 75 mg/kg, there were linear increases (p<0.05) in egg production, lutein content, and PROG, and a quadratic trend (p<0.05) in E2. For the oxidative injury products, lutein-supplementing diets decreased (p<0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) in the serum, MDA and 8-hydroxy 2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the yolk. There were linear decreases (p<0.05) in 8-OHdG in the serum, MDA, PCO, and 8-OHdG in the yolk, a quadratic trend (p<0.05) on serum 8-OHdG.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that lutein supplementation can improve egg production and fertility by beneficially regulating reproductive hormones and oxidative status in aged hens.

Nephroprotective plant species used in traditional Mayan Medicine for renal-associated diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The prevalence of kidney disease has increased rapidly in recent years and has emerged as one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Natural products have been suggested as valuable nephroprotective agents due to their multi-target and synergistic effects on modulating important proteins involved in kidney injury. There is a large number of plant species that have been used traditionally for kidney-related conditions in Mesoamerican medicine by different cultural groups that could provide a valuable source of nephroprotective therapeutic candidates and could lead to potential drug discovery.

AIM OF REVIEW

This review aims to provide an overview of the currently known efficacy of plant species used traditionally in Mesoamerica by Mayan groups to treat kidney-related conditions and to analyze the phytochemical, pharmacological, molecular, toxicological, and clinical evidence to contribute to public health efforts and for directing future research.

METHODS

Primary sources of plant use reports for traditional kidney-related disorders in Mesoamerica were searched systematically from library catalogs, theses, and scientific databases (PubMed, Google Scholar; and Science Direct), and were filtered according to usage frequency in Mayan groups and plant endemism. The database of traditional plants was further analyzed based on associations with published reports of the phytochemical, pharmacological, molecular, toxicological, and clinical evidence.

RESULTS

The most reported kidney-related conditions used traditionally in Mayan medicine involve reducing renal damage (a cultural interpretation that considers an inflammatory or infectious condition), cleaning or purifying the blood and kidney, reducing kidney pain, and eliminating kidney stones. A total of 208 plants used for kidney-related problems by 10 Mayan groups were found, representing 143 native species, where only 42 have reported pharmacological activity against kidney damage, mainly approached by in vitro and in vivo models of chemical- or drug-induced nephrotoxicity, diabetes nephropathy, and renal injury produced by hypertension. Nephroprotective effects are mainly mediated by reducing oxidative stress, inflammatory response, fibrosis mechanisms, and apoptosis in the kidney. The most common nephroprotective compounds associated with traditional Mayan medicine were flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic acids. The most widely studied traditional plants in terms of pharmacological evidence, bioactive compounds, and mechanisms of action, are Annona muricata L., Carica papaya L., Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., Lantana camara L., Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw., Tagetes erecta L., and Zea mays L. Most of the plant species with reported pharmacological activity against kidney damage were considered safe in toxicological studies.

CONCLUSION

Available pharmacological reports suggest that several herbs used in traditional Mayan medicine for renal-associated diseases may have nephroprotective effects and consistent pharmacological evidence, nephroprotective compounds, and mechanisms of action in different models of kidney injury. However, more research is required to fully understand the potential of traditional Mayan medicine in drug discovery given the limited ethnobotanical studies and data available for most species with regards to identification on bioactive components, pharmacological mechanisms, and the scarce number of clinical studies.

Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis Leaf Extract Alleviates Gentamicin-Induced Hepatorenal Injury in Rats—Possible Modulation of IL-1β and NF-κB Activity Assisted with Computational Approach

Background: Recently, crop byproducts are considered a hot topic and can be converted into beneficial products. Cauliflower is well-known for its protective effects against oxidative stress-induced damage. The current study aimed to investigate the chemical profile and the ameliorative effects of cauliflower leaf extract (CL) on gentamicin-induced renal and hepatic injuries in rats. Methods: Cauliflower leaf was extracted with methanol to give the total methanol extract (TME) followed by the determination of total phenolic contents (TPC). Rats were divided into five groups; Group I was assigned as the control group, while the other groups were injected with gentamicin for ten days. Group II was given distilled water. Rats in groups III and IV were treated with oral CL (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively). Group V received L-cysteine (as a positive control). The functions of the kidneys and liver; oxidative stress and morphological and apoptotic changes of renal and hepatic tissues were assessed. Results: The TME was subjected to chromatographic techniques to yield ferulic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid and quercetin. TPC was 72.31 mg GAE/g of dried extract. CL treatment dose-dependently ameliorated gentamicin-induced impaired kidney and liver functions and improved the histopathological appearance of both organs. It also reduced gentamicin-induced oxidative stress. CL demonstrated downregulation of mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β and NF-κB compared to nontreated rats. In silico interaction of the isolated compounds with amino acid residues of IL-1β and NF-κB might explain the current findings. Conclusion: Taken together, this study raises the waste-to-wealth potential of cauliflower to mitigate gentamicin-induced hepatorenal injury and convert the waste agromaterials into valuable products.

Chemical Composition and Valorization of Broccoli Leaf By-Products (Brassica oleracea L. Variety: Italica) to Ameliorate Reno-Hepatic Toxicity Induced by Gentamicin in Rats

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) is reported to possess antioxidant activity that could potentially prevent oxidative damage to tissues caused by many diseases. In the present study, we investigated the preventive effect of broccoli leaf by-product extract (BL) on gentamicin-induced renal and hepatic injury by measuring tissue antioxidant activities and morphological apoptotic changes. Broccoli leaf was thoroughly extracted with 70% methanol to yield the total methanol extract (TME). The total phenolic content (TPC) was determined. Thirty male rats were divided into five groups (six animals/group). Group I received phosphate-buffered saline orally, while group II was treated with gentamicin (100 mg/kg i.p. intraperitoneal) for ten days. Group III and group IV animals were given BL (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively) plus gentamicin treatment. Group V received L-cysteine (1 mmole/kg) plus gentamicin. Antioxidant and biochemical parameters, such as transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, and urea, and mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) were determined in various groups, along with the quantification of inflammatory and apoptotic cells in hepatic and renal tissues. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were determined in liver and renal samples. Histopathological studies of the liver and kidneys were also carried out. The TME was subjected to various and repeated techniques of chromatography to yield caffeic acid, gallic acid, and methyl gallate. The TPC was 6.47 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent/g of dry extract. Gentamicin increased the levels of serum AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, and urea. The MDA and GSH contents and theactivity levels of the antioxidant enzyme SOD decreased in liver and kidney samples with gentamicin administration. BL administration dose-dependently prevented the alteration in biochemical parameters and was supported by low levels of tubular and glomerular injuries induced by gentamicin. This study valorizes the potential of BL as a preventive candidate in cases of gentamicin-induced liver and kidney toxicity and recommends further clinical studies using BL to validate its utilization for human consumption and as a source of phenolics for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical purposes.