Oxalate mediated nephronal impairment and its inhibition by c-phycocyanin: a study on urolithic rats.
The assumption of oxidative stress as a mechanism in oxalate induced renal damage suggests that antioxidants might play a beneficial role against oxalate toxicity. An in vivo model was used to investigate the effect of C-phycocyanin (from aquatic micro algae; Spirulina spp.), a known antioxidant, against calcium oxalate urolithiasis. Hyperoxaluria was induced in two of the 4 groups of Wistar albino rats (n = 6 in each) by intraperitoneally injecting sodium oxalate (70 mg/kg body weight). A pretreatment of phycocyanin (100 mg/kg body weight) as a single oral dosage was given, one hour prior to oxalate challenge. An untreated control and drug control (phycocyanin alone) were employed. Phycocyanin administration resulted in a significant improvement (p < 0.001) in the thiol content of renal tissue and RBC lysate via increasing glutathione and reducing malondialdehyde levels in the plasma of oxalate induced rats (p < 0.001), indicating phycocyanin's antioxidant effect on oxalate mediated oxidative stress. Administering phycocyanin after oxalate treatment significantly increased catalase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity (p < 0.001) in RBC lysate suggesting phycocyanin as a free radical quencher. Assessing calcium oxalate crystal retention in renal tissue using polarization microscopy and renal ultrastructure by electron microscopy reveals normal features in phycocyanin-- pretreated groups. Thus the study presents positive pharmacological implications of phycocyanin against oxalate mediated nephronal impairment and warrants further work to tap this potential aquatic resource for its medicinal application.
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. A.L.M. Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical, Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, 600 113, India.
Shukkur Muhammed
SM
Farooq
Abdul Shukkur
AS
Ebrahim
Karthik Harve
KH
Subramhanya
Ramasamy
R
Sakthivel
Nachiappa Ganesh
NG
Rajesh
Palaninathan
P
Varalakshmi
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000032:analysis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D009399:Nephrons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010070:Oxalates; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010798:Phycocyanin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000975:Antioxidants; D010070:Oxalates; D010798:Phycocyanin; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005978:Glutathione