title: Antioxidant effect of Arabic gum against mercuric chloride-induced nephrotoxicity.
abstract: The effects of Arabic gum (AG) against nephrotoxicity of mercury (Hg), an oxidative-stress inducing substance, in rats were investigated. A single dose of mercuric chloride (5 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection) induced renal toxicity, manifested biochemically by a significant increase in serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and total nitrate/nitrite production in kidney tissues. In addition, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase enzymes in renal tissues were significantly decreased. Pretreatment of rats with AG (7.5 g/kg/day per oral administration), starting 5 days before mercuric chloride injection and continuing through the experimental period, resulted in a complete reversal of Hg-induced increase in creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and total nitrate/nitrite to control values. Histopathologic examination of kidney tissues confirmed the biochemical data; pretreatment of AG prevented Hg-induced degenerative changes of kidney tissues. These results indicate that AG is an efficient cytoprotective agent against Hg-induced nephrotoxicity by a mechanism related at least in part to its ability to decrease oxidative and nitrosative stress and preserve the activity of antioxidant enzymes in kidney tissues.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, College of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ali M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gado
authors.forename: Badr A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Aldahmash
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D006170:Gum Arabic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D006170:Gum Arabic; D003404:Creatinine
keywords: acacia gum; kidney toxicity; lipid per oxidation; mercury; oxidative stress