Comparative Nephroprotective Effects of Silymarin, N-Acetylcysteine, and Thymoquinone Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

Background: Many pharmacological agents may lead to kidney damage. Preventing nephrotoxicity reduces the risk of morbidity and mortality, as well as decreasing hospitalization costs. Objectives: In this study, we investigated the comparative nephroprotective effects of silymarin, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and thymoquinone (TQ) in animal models (rats) in which we induced nephrotoxicity using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Methods: This animal experimental study was conducted at the experimental animals center of Yuzuncu Yil University, Turkey, in 2015. Thirty-eight adult male Wistar rats were used in this study. We defined five experimental groups and treated them for four weeks. The first group (n = 8) was given no medicine. The second group (n = 8) was given only CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg, intraperitoneally (IP), in olive oil, twice a week). The third group (n = 6) was given TQ (10 mg/kg, IP, in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), daily) and CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg). The fourth group (n = 8) was given silymarin (100 mg/kg, IP, in DMSO, daily) and CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg), while the fifth group (n = 8) was given NAC (10 mg/kg, IP, daily) and CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg). The kidneys of all the rats in every group were evaluated histologically using light microscopic methods at the end of the fourth week. A grading scheme was used to score the histological alterations related to tubular injury: absent (-), mild (+), moderate (++), severe (+++), and quite severe (++++).

Nephroprotective effect of silymarin against diclofenac induced renal damage and oxidative stress in male rats

“…It is generally accepted that the toxicity of DIC is strongly associated with oxidative stress leading to lipid peroxidation and injury to the cellular macromolecules (7,31). In groups 3 and 4 DIC-induced deteriorations reduced by silymarin treatment which are in agreement with prior investigations (32,33). On the other hand, this renal protective effect of silymarin may be due to its stabilizing effects on plasma membrane and proteins against reactive oxygen species (ROS).…”

Protective and anti-inflammatory effects of silymarin on paraquat-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

“…In our study, administration of silymarin led to protect kidneys against paraquat toxicity and reduces serum urea and Cr levels ( Table 1). According to previous reports, silymarin can reduce urea and Cr (10,13,31). Therefore, these effects of silymarin on paraquat-induced nephrotoxicity may be produced, at least in part, due to its antioxidant properties.…”

The protective effect of N-acetyl cysteine against carbon tetrachloride toxicity in rats

“…The powerful antioxidant effect of NAC appeared in the histological recovery of kidney; this attributed to its potential to eliminate free radicals from CCl4-induced oxidative stress. (Ustyol et al, 2017).…”