Protective effect of naringenin against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

• Gentamicin nephrotoxicity is induced through oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammation.
• Naringenin, bioflavonoid mainly in citrus fruits, has marked antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Naringenin ameliorates gentamicin nephrotoxicity in rats.

The protective effect of naringenin, a flavonoid compound isolated from citrus fruits, was investigated against nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin (80 mg kg−1/day, i.p., for eight days) in rats. Naringenin treatment (50 mg kg−1/day, p.o.) was administered for eight days, starting on the same day of gentamicin administration. Gentamicin caused significant elevations of serum creatinine, and kidney tissue levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and interleukin-8, and a significant decrease in renal glutathione peroxidase activity. Naringenin treatment significantly ameliorated the changes in the measured biochemical parameters resulted from gentamicin administration. Also, naringenin markedly attenuated the histopathological renal tissue injury observed with gentamicin. Immunohistochemical examinations showed that naringenin significantly reduced the gentamicin-induced expression of kidney injury molecule-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and caspase-9, and increased survivin expression in the kidney tissue. It was concluded that naringenin, through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, may represent a therapeutic option to protect against gentamicin nephrotoxicity.