Amelioration of DENA-induced oxidative stress in rat kidney and brain by the essential oil of Elettaria cardamomum

Abstract

The goal of the present work was to study the protective role of the essential oil of Elettaria cardamomum (cardamom) against diethylnitrosamine (DENA)-induced oxidative stress in the kidney and brain of rats in comparison with geraniol, a pure compound as one of the main components of cardamom essential oil. Geraniol or cardamom essential oil was orally administered every day (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 1 week before DENA administration and continuously administered for 26 weeks. The levels of brain and kidney ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and renal markers such as urea and creatinine were elevated after DENA administration. However, cardamom and geraniol administration decreased kidney and brain oxidative stress and lowered the activity of ODC in brain and kidney and the activity of AChE in brain. Cardamom or geraniol had significantly reduced the level of lipid peroxidation to almost half the value in DENA group and enhanced glutathione level by double its values in brain and kidney compared to glutathione levels in DENA treated-rats. In addition, geraniol or oil of cardamom improved the activities of the antioxidant markers; catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S transferase in the brain and kidneys of DENA-treated rats. The results support the chemopreventive, antioxidant, neuroprotective and anticancer effects of the essential oil of cardamom, which are mediated through its inhibition of ODC and AChE activities and activation of antioxidant markers.