Spirulina attenuates cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Full Abstract

Cyclosporine (CsA) causes a dose-related decrease in renal function in experimental animals and humans. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in CsA-induced nephrotoxicity. It was previously shown that Spirulina, a blue-green algae, with antioxidant properties effectively attenuated the doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in mice and cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat. The present study investigated the nephroprotective role of Spirulina against CsA-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Spirulina (500 mg kg(-1) b.w.) was administered orally for 3 days before and 14 days concurrently with CsA (50 mg kg-1 b.w.). Rats treated with CsA showed nephrotoxicity as evidenced from a significant elevation in plasma urea, creatinine, urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (beta-NAG) and a decrease in creatinine and lithium clearance. Pretreatment with Spirulina protected the rats from CsA-induced nephrotoxicity. The CsA-induced rise in plasma urea and creatinine and the decrease in creatinine and lithium clearance were attenuated by Spirulina. There was a significant increase in plasma and kidney tissue MDA with CsA. Spirulina prevented the rise in plasma and kidney tissue MDA. Histopathology of the kidney from CsA-treated rats showed severe isometric vacuolization and widening of the interstitium. However, pretreatment with Spirulina prevented such changes, and the kidney morphology was comparable to that of the control. Spirulina treatment did not alter the blood CsA levels. These results suggest that Spirulina has a protective effect against nephrotoxicity induced by CsA. This study further supports the crucial role of the antioxidant nature of Spirulina in protecting against CsA-induced oxidative stress.Copyright 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Author information

Author/s: Khan, Mahmood (M); Shobha, Jagdish Chandra (JC); Mohan, Iyyapu Krishna (IK); Rao Naidu, Madireddy Umamaheswara (MU); Prayag, Aruna (A); Kutala, Vijay Kumar (VK);

Affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad 500 082, India.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of applied toxicology : JAT (J Appl Toxicol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2006 Sep-Oct; vol 26 (issue 5) : pp 444-51

Dates: Created 2006/08/24; Completed 2007/08/06; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 16858688, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acetylglucosaminidase - urine
Animals
Antioxidants - pharmacology
Body Weight - drug effects
Catalase - metabolism
Creatinine - urine
Cyclosporine
Kidney - drug effects; metabolism; pathology

Kidney - drug effects; metabolism; pathology
Kidney Diseases - chemically induced; metabolism; prevention & control
Lipid Peroxidation
Male
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Spirulina
Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Antioxidants (0) ; Cyclosporine (59865-13-3) ; Creatinine (60-27-5) ; Catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) ; Superoxide Dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) ; Acetylglucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52)

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