Protective role of curcumin in nephrotoxic oxidative damage induced by vancomycin in rats

Vancomycin (VAN) is a glycopeptide antibiotic which is active against gram positive bacteria including methicillin resistant Staphylococci. Free radicals are involved in the pathogenesis of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant potential of curcumin (CUR) against the nephrotoxicity of vancomycin in male rats. Animals used in this study were divided into four groups; the first group was used as control, the second, third and fourth groups were treated orally with curcumin (200 mg/kg BW/day), vancomycin (200 mg/kg BW/day, i.p.), vancomycin plus curcumin, respectively. Curcumin was administered 2 weeks before and 1 week simultaneously with vancomycin. Results showed that thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in plasma and kidney tissue were significantly increased after vancomycin administration. While, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in plasma and kidney tissue and the content of glutathione (GSH) in kidney tissue were decreased compared to control. Vancomycin significantly increased the levels of urea and creatinine. The presence of curcumin with vancomycin caused reduction in induction levels of TBARS in plasma and kidney, urea and creatinine. It ameliorated vancomycin-induced decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and GSH. The presence of curcumin with vancomycin alleviated its nephrotoxic effects. It can be concluded that curcumin has beneficial influences and could be able to antagonize vancomycin nephrotoxicity.