Open Access
ARTICLE
Boldine provides protective effect against nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin in Wistar rats: Role of oxidative stress, inflammation and caspase-3
NERGIZ HACER TURGUT1,*, HUSEYIN GUNGOR2, MEHMET EKICI3, MUMIN ALPER ERDOGAN4, MEHMET ONDER KARAYIGIT5, HAKI KARA2
1 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, 35620, Turkey
2 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, 58140, Turkey
3 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, 58140, Turkey
4 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, 35620, Turkey
5 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, 58140, Turkey
* Corresponding Author: Nergiz Hacer Turgut,
BIOCELL 2022, 46(9), 2111-2122. https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2022.020383
Received 20 November 2021; Accepted 27 January 2022; Issue published 18 May 2022
Abstract
Side effects of cisplatin, especially dose-dependent nephrotoxicity, are major factors limiting its use in cancer.
Boldine ((S)-2, 9-dihydroxy-1, 10-dimethoxy-aporphine) is a natural alkaloid known for its strong antioxidant activity
present in leaves/bark of boldo tree (Peumus boldus Molina), a native tree in Chile. Here, we aimed to investigate the
nephroprotective effect of boldine and its underlying mechanisms on cisplatin-induced rat renal injury. Thirty Wistar
albino rats divided into 5 groups (Control, Cis, Bold.40, Cis + Bold.20, Cis + Bold.40 groups) were used. Rats received
boldine (20 or 40 mg/kg/day), or vehicle (saline) intraperitoneal for 14 days and a single dose cisplatin (7 mg/kg, ip)
was applied on the 10th day to induce nephrotoxicity. Rats and kidney tissue were weighed to determine kidney
index. Blood urea nitrojen (BUN) and creatinine levels, the amount of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS,
an index of lipid peroxidation), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme activities and
tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured and histopathologic examination was performed. Inducible
nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and caspase-3 expressions were detected immunohistochemically. Nephrotoxicity
induced by cisplatin was apparent by elevated levels of BUN, creatinine, kidney index, TBARS and TNF-α, and
decreased body weight, SOD and GPx enzyme levels. Pretreatment with boldine protected the renal function at both
boldine doses by fixing the renal damage markers, oxidative stress, caspase-3 and iNOS expression. Histopathological
findings supported biochemical findings. Taken together these findings indicate that boldine has promising protective
effect against cisplatin nephrotoxicity by improving oxidative stress, inflammation, histopathological alterations and
by alleviating caspase 3 expression.
Keywords
Cite This Article
TURGUT, N. H., GUNGOR, H., EKICI, M., ERDOGAN, M. A., KARAYIGIT, M. O. et al. (2022). Boldine provides protective effect against nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin in Wistar rats: Role of oxidative stress, inflammation and caspase-3.
BIOCELL, 46(9), 2111–2122. https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2022.020383