Abstract
Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate and compare the protective effects of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of lyophilized kiwifruit on acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by glycerol in male albino rats.
 Methods: Rats were divided into four groups: negative control healthy group, acute kidney injury group (administered glycerol), AKI rats treated with ethanolic kiwifruit extract group, and AKI rats treated with aqueous kiwifruit extract group. Kidney biomarkers, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers were measured and histological examination was performed.
 Results: We observed that glycerol induced acute renal injury and as a result there was an increase in the levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, Na+, K+, Cl-, uric acid, cystatin-C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, C-reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and malondialdehyde as well as a decrease in the levels of reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase compared to that in the negative control group. Ethanolic and aqueous kiwifruit extracts improved all the kidney biomarkers in AKI rats. Histological examination showed acute tubular necrosis in the AKI group. However, there was an improvement in the renal tissue, represented by epithelial cell regeneration, in rats that were administered both the extracts.
 Conclusion: Kiwifruit extracts have a positive effect on serum biochemical parameters and renal tissue, which can be beneficial in the treatment of AKI. The treatment with the ethanolic extract is more potent than with the aqueous extract.
Highlights
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious clinical issue that nephrologists, intensivists, general physicians, and surgeons are faced with [1]
Rats were divided into four groups: negative control healthy group, acute kidney injury group, AKI rats treated with ethanolic kiwifruit extract group, and AKI rats treated with aqueous kiwifruit extract group
The administration of glycerol resulted in an increase significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in serum levels of Na+, Cl, and K+.Treatment of rats with either RI-EE or rats treated with ethanolic extract of kiwi; (RI-AE) caused a significant reduction in sodium, chloride,and potassium levels when compared to the RI group.The ethanolic extract reduced the serum level of all the three electrolytes in RI-EE rats more significantly than the aqueous extract in RI-AE rats (Table 2)
Summary
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious clinical issue that nephrologists, intensivists, general physicians, and surgeons are faced with [1]. A severe reduction and persistent decline in the kidney function is characteristic of AKI [3,4]. It results in depletion of nephrons and waste accumulation and electrolyte disruption [4,5]. This type of renal failure is reversible in most cases but can progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD) if the patient is not responsive to the treatment. AKI induced by glycerol is a result of renal ischaemia and myoglobin nephrotoxicity. The presence of myoglobin haeme in the redox cycle induces proximal tubular cell oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, which stimulates the secretion of a variety of mediators, including cytokines and chemokines, resulting in cortical tubular necrosis by leucocyte activation [6]
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