Ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol protect anticancer drug cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in mice: a comparative study

BackgroundOxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between prooxidant and antioxidant systems in favor of the former, largely contributes to immune system deregulation and complications observed in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and patients treated with hemodialysis. Reactive oxygen species and free radicals are involved in the nephrotoxicity induced by a synthetic anticancer drug cisplatin.MethodsA comparative study on the nephroprotective effects of antioxidant vitamins (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.), vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (α-tocopherol), was evaluated using cisplatin (10 mg/kg body wt, i.p.) induced oxidative renal damage in mice. Urea and creatinine in serum were estimated for the renal function. Antioxidant status was estimated in kidney homogenate.ResultsWe found that both vitamins at 500 mg/kg significantly (P < 0.01) protected the nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin. The cisplatin induced increase of urea and creatinine concentrations were reduced in the vitamins plus cisplatin (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.)-treated groups. However the cisplatin induced decline of renal antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were increased only in the 500 mg/kg vitamins treated groups. Both vitamins at 250 and 500 mg/kg could increase the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) and protected the increase of cisplatin induced lipid peroxidation.ConclusionsHigher doses of vitamins are effective to protect oxidative renal damage and vitamin C is the better nephroprotective agent than vitamin E. The protection is mediated partially by preventing the decline of renal antioxidant status.