title: Protective effect of pomegranate seed oil against mercuric chloride-induced nephrotoxicity in rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Heavy metals such as mercury can induce the generation of free radicals and oxidative stress which are associated with tissue injury. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of pomegranate seed oil against HgCl2-induced nephrotoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four W/A adult rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group I received corn oil (1 mL/kg). Group II received HgCl2 (5 mg/kg) for 3 days. Group III and IV received PSO 0.4 mL/kg and 0.8 mL/kg, respectively one hour before HgCl2 administration for 3 days. Blood samples were taken by cardiac puncture and used for the measurement of urea and creatinine concentration. Twenty-hour-hour urine samples were collected to measure protein and glucose. The right kidney was fixed in formalin for histological examination and the left kidney was homogenized for measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and total sulfhydryl groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant elevation of serum creatinine and urea levels as well as urine glucose and protein concentrations, a significant decrease in total thiol content and a significant increase in MDA levels in kidney homogenate samples were observed after administration of HgCl2 as compared with control group. PSO pretreatment resulted in a significant decrease in serum creatinine and urea levels as well as urine glucose and protein concentrations when compared with HgCl2 treated (group II). PSO also significantly reversed the HgCl2-induced depletion in thiol content and elevation in MDA content. Histological studies revealed milder kidney lesions in PSO treated groups (groups III and IV) compared to HgCl2 treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that PSO has a protective effect against HgCl2-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad, I. R. Iran .
authors.forename: Mohammad Taher
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Boroushaki
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mollazadeh
authors.forename: Arezoo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajabian
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dolati
authors.forename: Azar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoseini
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paseban
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farzadnia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D029561:Lythraceae; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000150:complications*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; D008627:Mercuric Chloride
keywords: Mercuric chloride; malondialdehyde; nephrotoxicity; pomegranate seed oil; total thiol groups