Vanillin mitigates potassium bromate-induced molecular, biochemical and histopathological changes in the kidney of adult mice

• Vanillin, an antioxidant, prevents renal injury induced by KBrO3 in adult mice.
• Vanillin reduced malondialdehyde and raised non-enzymatic antioxidant activities.
• Vanillin reduced the activities and gene expression of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione.
• Vanillin improved the histological aspect in the kidney of adult mice.
• Vanillin decreased mRNA expression and the level of metallothionein in KBrO3 treated mice.

The present study aimed to explore the ability of vanillin to ameliorate the adverse effects induced by potassium bromate (KBrO3) in the renal tissue. Our results showed a significant increase in hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein product and protein carbonyl levels in the kidney of KBrO3 treated mice, compared with the control group. Nephrotoxicity was evidenced by a decrease in plasma uric acid and kidney glutathione levels, Na+-K+-ATPase, lactate dehydrogenase and catalase activities. Additionally, creatinine and urea levels significantly increased in the plasma and declined in the urine. Also, Kidney glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, metallothionein (MT1 and MT2) mRNA expression remarkably increased. These modifications in biochemical and molecular values were substantiated by histopathological data. Co-treatment with vanillin restored these parameters to near control values. Interestingly, vanillin proved to possess, in vitro, a stronger scavenging radical activity than vitamin C and Trolox. Thus, vanillin inhibited KBrO3-induced damage via its antioxidant and antiradical activities as well as its capacity to protect genes expression and histopathological changes.