Evaluation of possible protective role of Chrysin against arsenic-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Abstract

Arsenic is a heavy metal having great scientific concern due to its toxic effects. Chrysin is a flavone found in honey and plants. This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of chrysin against arsenic incited nephrotoxicity in rats. Animals were separated into four different groups and designated as control, arsenic (10 mg/kg) treated, arsenic + chrysin (10 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg respectively) treated and chrysin (50 mg/kg) treated groups. After 30 days of trial, rats were dissected and antioxidant enzymes, renal damage markers, inflammatory markers, DNA damage and histopathology were observed. Catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities and glutathione (GSH) content were significantly (p < .05) reduced whereas thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were significantly (p < .05) increased due to arsenic exposure. Arsenic treatment caused a significant (p < .05) increase in urea, creatinine, urobilinogen, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels while a substantial reduction in creatinine clearance was observed. Arsenic exposure significantly (p < .05) increased the inflammatory markers, including nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity. The results demonstrated that arsenic exposure significantly (p < .05) increased the DNA and histopathological damages. However, chrysin treatment significantly (p < .05) restored the damages induced by arsenic. These results revealed that the chrysin is an effective compound, having curative potential to counter the arsenic-induced renal damage.