Protective effects of thymoquinone on vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Oxidative stress has been implicated as a potential responsible mechanism in the pathogenesis of vancomycin (VCM)-induced renal toxicity. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the protective effect of thymoquinone (TQ) against VCM-induced nephrotoxicity by tissue oxidant/antioxidant parameters and histological changes in rats.


METHODS
Wistar albino rats were randomly separated into four groups consisting of seven rats per group. The groups had normal saline (control group), VCM, VCM and TQ and TQ, respectively. VCM was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 200 mg/kg and continued at 12-h intervals for 7 days. TQ was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 10 mg/kg and continued at 24 h intervals for 8 days. Animals were killed and blood samples were analyzed for the levels of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr). Kidney specimens were analyzed for levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) as well as for histopathological changes.


RESULTS
We found that the levels of serum BUN, Cr and kidney tissue MDA were increased in the VCM group. Activities of SOD and GSH-Px in kidney tissue were decreased. TQ administration ameliorated significantly these changes.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the TQ produces a protective mechanism against VCM-induced nephrotoxicity and suggest a role of oxidative stress in pathogenesis.
Department of Pediatrics, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey. fatmagulbasarslan@hotmail.com
Fatmagul
F
Basarslan
N
N
Yilmaz
S
S
Ates
T
T
Ozgur
M
M
Tutanc
V K
VK
Motor
V
V
Arica
C
C
Yilmaz
M
M
Inci
S
S
Buyukbas
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000633:toxicity*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016227:Benzoquinones; D020011:Protective Agents; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D014640:Vancomycin; D003404:Creatinine; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C003466:thymoquinone