Protective Effect of Green Tea Extract on Cyclosporine A: Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

Cyclosporine A (CsA) is a potent and effective immunosuppressive agent, but its use is frequently accompanied by severe renal toxicity. CsA-induced ne phrotoxicity results from increased production of free radical species in the kidney. The present study was designed to investigate the possible protective effect of green tea extract (GTE) on CsA-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Eighty male rats were divided into four equal groups. Group 1 rats not receive drugs or green tea and served as control, group 2 normal rats administrated with green tea extract (3% w/v) orally, group 3 rats supplied with CsA (25 mg/kg body weight, orally for 21 days) to induce nephrotoxicity, groups 4 rats received green tea extract for 21 days before, 21 days concurrently during CsA administration and 21 days later after nephrotoxicity induction. Blood samples for serum separation and kidney tissue specimens were collected three times at weekly interval from the last dose of CsA administration. Serum glucose, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols and phospholipids, urea, uric acid and creatinine, sodium and potassium, inorganic phosphorus, total Protein, albumin, and haptoglobin levels, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities were also determined. Moreover, kidney tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant capacity (TAO) levels, antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GP