Quercetin in combination with vitamins (C and E) improves oxidative stress and renal injury in cadmium intoxicated rats

S. Milton Prabu, K. Shagirtha*, J. Renugadevi

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu (India) *Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu (India)

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• Pharmacology

Abstract. – Background and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine if the combination therapy of quercetin along with vitamins (C and E) has any advantage over the cadmium (Cd) induced oxidative stress and renal injury in rats. They were analysed serum and urinary markers of renal damage (urea, uric acid, creatinine and creatinine clearance), renal oxidative stress indices (thio barbituric acid reactive substances: TBARS, lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and protein carbonyls (PC), renal non-enzymatic [reduced glutathione (GSH), total sulphydryl groups (TSH)], vitamin-C and vitamin-E, enzymatic [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione-s-transferase, GST)], glutathione metabolizing enzymes [glutathione reductase (GR) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, (G6PD)] and histological changes in kidney.
Results: Cd intoxication significantly (P>0.05) increased the levels of serum nephritic markers (urea, uric acid, creatinine) and significantly (P>0.05) reduced the urea, uric acid and creatinine in urine and serum creatinine clearance. It also significantly (P>0.05) increased renal oxidative stress markers and significantly (P>0.05) decreased renal non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants status and severely increased the histo-pathological changes when compared to normal control rats. Cd intoxicated rats pre-treated with quercetin (QE) alone and QE along with vitamin-C (VC) and vitamin-E (VE) significantly ameliorated Cd induced anomalies in renal biochemical and histological indices.
Conclusion: The ameliorative effect against Cd intoxication was much pronounced in rats treated with QE along with vitamins C and E.

Corresponding Author: S. Milton Prabu, MD; e-mail: smprabu73@gmail.com