Nephrotoxicity is one of the most common kidney problems and occurs when the body is exposed to a drug or toxin. Natural sources of antioxidants may serve as a vital source of potentially useful new compounds for the development of an effective therapy to combat a variety of kidney problems. Natural antioxidants have a variety of biochemical actions such as inhibition of reactive oxygen species production, scavenging of free radicals. The present review aims to summarize the recent articles which studied some of the nephrotoxic agents, and alleviation of nephrotoxicity using of some natural products possessing antioxidant properties. Our review shows the oxidative damage and renal disorders induced in human and experimental animals by nephrotoxic agents such as gentamicin, alcohol, nicotine, adenine, glycerol, ethylene glycol, sodium nitrite, mercuric chloride, AlCl 3 , lead acetate, carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ), furosemide, carbendazim, diazinon, heat stress, and γ-radiation. Also, nephrotic disorders caused in diabetic rats, patients, cirrhotic ascetic patients, and ischemia-reperfusion. Administration of natural sources of antioxidants such as curcumin, garlic, fenugreek, parsley, peppermint, pomegranate, propolis, olive leaves, rosemary, and sesame attenuated both physiological and histopathological alterations induced in the kidney by the nephrotoxic agent and certain diseases. The nephroprotective effect of the former natural sources of antioxidants may be due to the enhancement of antioxidant activity and inhibition of tissue lipid peroxidation. It can be concluded that administration of curcumin, garlic, fenugreek, parsley, peppermint, pomegranate, propolis, olive leaves, rosemary, and sesame showed a remarkable kidney protection against nephrotoxic agents, and diseases induced renal dysfunctions in human and experimental animals. So, the present study recommended that the consumption of these natural sources of antioxidants may be useful for human exposure to nephrotoxic agents and patients who suffer from renal diseases.

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Flavonoids and various phenolics are the most important pharmacologically active constituents in propolis capable of scavenging free radicals. The present work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of aqueous extract of Libyan propolis as a natural source of antioxidants to minimize the harmful effects of sodium nitrite induced haematotoxicity and hyperlipidemia in Guinea pigs. In this study, Twenty four adult male Guinea pigs were used for this study and divided into four groups. The first group was control group, the 2 nd was the propolis group orally received propolis (200 mg/kg body wt), the 3 rd was the experimental and received sodium nitrite orally at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight, the 4 th one co-administered sodium nitrite orally at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight with propolis (200 mg/kg body wt) daily for 35 days. Blood samples were obtained for assessment of haematological parameters and serum lipids profile. In sodium nitrite treated animals, there were severe haematological changes and dyslipidemia. Haematologically, Guinea pigs that received sodium nitrite orally at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight daily for 35 days had significantly (p<0.05) lower red blood cell count, hemoglobin content, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count, and platelets count than those in the control animals. On the other hand, mean corpuscular volume of sodium nitrite treated animals was significantly (p<0.05) elevated as compared to the control animals. The serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipids cholesterol, very low density lipids cholesterol concentrations, and the atherogenic ratios based on lipid profile parameters (Castelli's risk index I, Castelli's risk index II, atherogenic coefficient and atherogenic index of plasma) were increased and serum high density lipids cholesterol concentration was decreased in sodium nitrite treated group. Co-administration of propolis significantly improved of all haematological and lipid profile parameters, and atherogenic ratios parameters. It can be concluded that, sodium nitrite had adverse effects on haematological, lipid profile parameters, and the atherogenic ratios parameters. Propolis supplementation showed a remarkable amelioration of these abnormalities in sodium nitrite treated male Guinea pigs. It is recommended that the use of sodium nitrite must be limited and use of propolis as antioxidant to prevent the toxic effect. Further studies are necessary to elucidate exact mechanism of protection of haematotoxicity, hyperlipidemia, atherogenic and potential usefulness of aqueous extract of Libyan propolis as a protective agent against sodium nitrite induced haematotoxicity, dyslipidemia and atherogenic in clinical trials.

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Rosemary extracts have a high scavenging capacity of different types of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, mostly free radicals. The present work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of aqueous extract of rosemary as a natural source of antioxidants to minimize the harmful effects of nicotine induced hepatorenal toxicity in Guinea pigs. In this study, twenty four adult male Guinea pigs were used for this study and divided into four groups. The first group was control group, the 2 nd was the rosemary group orally received rosemary (220 mg/kg body weight /day), the 3 rd was the experimental and received intraperitoneal injection of nicotine (6 mg/kg body weight /day), the 4 th one co-administered intraperitoneal injection of nicotine (6 mg/kg body weight /day) and rosemary (220 mg/kg body weight /day) orally by gavage for 30 days. Blood samples were obtained for assessment of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferase activities, total proteins, albumin, and globulin concentrations, albumin concentration/globulin concentration (A/G) ratio, urea, uric acid, creatinine, sodium ion, and potassium ion concentrations. In nicotine treated animals, the serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transferase activities, urea, uric acid, creatinine, and potassium ion concentrations were significantly (p<0.05), increased as compared to the control group. On the other hand, serum total proteins, albumin, and sodium ion concentrations of nicotine treated Guinea pigs, were significantly (p<0.05), decreased compared with control animals. But, globulin concentrations and A/G ratio were non significantly changed. Co-administration of rosemary significantly improved all biochemical parameters. It can be concluded that, simultaneous administration of aqueous extract of rosemary with nicotine resulted in prevention of induced hepatorenal toxicity in Guinea pigs. It is recommended that the heavy smokers should be advised to take rosemary as antioxidant to prevent the hepatorenal toxicity. Further studies are necessary to elucidate exact mechanism of hepatorenal protection and potential usefulness of aqueous extract of rosemary as a protective agent against nicotine induced hepatorenal toxicity in clinical trials.