Evaluation of the protective potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Thymus daenensis on acetaminophen-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Abstract

Background: Acetaminophen (APAP) is an antinociceptive and antipyretic drug that can be useful in therapeutic doses, although it can cause serious damage to the kidney if used overdose. The current study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Thymus daenensis (TD) extract on APAP-induced kidney damage in rats. Methods: Thirty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, APAP (3 g/kg), TD (500 mg/kg), APAP þ TD (500 mg/kg), and APAP þ N-acetylcysteine (140 mg/kg). The APAP groups received APAP on the 6th day and the rats were sacrificed on the 7th day. Plasma levels of creatinine (Cr) and urea were measured. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), nitric oxide (NO) metabolite, total thiol (T-SH), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and antioxidant enzymes activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) were measured in kidney tissue. The gene expression of TNF-α was also measured by real-time PCR. The histological examination of kidney tissue was also performed. Results: Results showed that urea, Cr and FRAP markers markedly elevated in the APAP rats compared with the control group. There was a significant decrease in T-SH levels in the APAP animals in comparison with the control group. CAT activity also augmented in the APAP group compared to the control group. Urea and Cr levels were significantly decreased in the APAP þ TD group in comparison with the APAP group. The administration of TD extract significantly increased the SOD enzyme activity. Histological findings were improved in the group treated with TD extract. Conclusion:In general, the results indicate that TD extract can protect against APAP-induced nephrotoxicity by improving biochemical, histological and antioxidant effects. However, more studies are required to determine the mechanism of this extract.

Protective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Stachys pilifera on paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity in female rats

“…The findings of the current study indicated that following the PCM administration (3 g/kg), serum urea and creatinine amounts increased significantly in comparison to the control group, which could indicate kidney tissue damage. These results were consistent with the findings of our previous study ( 13 ). Similar results were obtained in the previous studies by ingestion of 2 g/kg PCM ( 23 ).…”

“…T-SH contains protein thiol groups and GSH ( 29 ). Consistent with our previous study ( 13 ), in this work, it was observed that in rats treated with PCM, T-SH levels were significantly reduced, which could be due to GSH depletion by NAPQI. Similar to our previous study ( 8 11 )T-SH level enlarged in the SPE group in contrast to the PCM group.…”

“…Among various antioxidant markers, SOD and CAT act as the chief enzymes in the elimination of ROS ( 25 ). In the present study, according to our previous investigation, consumption of PCM increased CAT enzyme activity ( 13 ). Although this change may be unexpected based on other studies ( 17 18 ), one study suggested that an increase in CAT could be due to the overproduction of free radicals ( 26 ).…”

“…Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: group I (the control): orally distilled water (vehicle) for one week; group II (PCM group): orally distilled water for one week and on the 6 th day PCM (3 g/kg) ( 12 13 ); group III (SPE): orally ethanolic SPE (500 mg/kg) ( 8 )for one week; and group IV (PCM + SPE): orally SPE (500 mg/kg) for one week and PCM (3 g/kg) on the 6 th day. PCM was provided from Sigma Chemical Co (St Louis, MO, USA).…”

Matrix Metalloproteinases and Arterial Hypertension: Role of Oxidative Stress and Nitric Oxide in Vascular Functional and Structural Alterations

“…For example, the antagonist of β1-adrenergic receptors, nebivolol, decreases vascular MMP-2 activity and attenuates hypertension-induced vascular remodeling and collagen deposition by mechanisms apparently independent of β1 adrenoceptor-blocking properties, probably related to diminished NADPH oxidase activity decreasing ROS formation [ 103 , 106 ]. Additional examples of drugs exerting such beneficial pleiotropic effects include some dihydropyridines—such as nifedipine, nimodipine and amlodipine—which have antioxidant effects and downregulate MMP [ 130 , 131 , 132 ], or losartan, an antagonist of Ang-II type 1 receptors [ 133 ]. Other drugs with antioxidant effects, such as quercetin, also exert anti-MMP and anti-remodeling effects in hypertension [ 29 ].…”