PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF QUERCETIN ON CISPLATIN-INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN RATS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of quercetin on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Experiments were done on thirty-two Wistar rats divided into four groups of 8 animals each. The CIS group received a single dose of cisplatin (8 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, whereas the CISQ group received quercetin intraperitoneally at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 9 days and a single dose of cisplatin intraperitoneally (8 mg/kg) on the fifth day. Animals in the Q group received quercetin (50 mg/kg) and the C group received saline (1 mL/day), both given intraperitoneally for 9 days. Quantitative evaluation of structural and functional alterations in the kidneys were performed by histopathological and biochemical analyses. Histological sections of kidney in CIS group revealed mild degenerative changes of proximal tubules and focal apoptosis of tubulocites, while glomeruli had reduced lobular appearance. In CISQ group these changes were ameliorated and less visible. Analysis of biochemical parameters showed significantly higher urea and creatinine serum concentrations in CIS group in comparison with C group and CISQ group (p<0.001). The concentrations of potassium and sodium in the CIS group were lower, but not statistically significant in comparison to the C group. Kidney MDA levels were found to be significantly higher in CIS group than those in C group (p<0.001), whereas the values for CISQ group were significantly lower than MDA recorded for CIS group (p<0.001). The results suggest that quercetin has the nephroprotective action and reduces lipid peroxidation in cisplatin-treated rats.

Key words: Cisplatin, quercetin, nephrotoxicity, rats