Beneficial role of naringin, a flavanoid on nickel induced nephrotoxicity in rats

This study was conducted to investigate the beneficial role of naringin on nickel induced nephrotoxicity. Nickel (Ni) (20 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 20 days. Naringin was administered orally (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg b.w.) with i.p. administration of Ni. Ni administration increased the levels of serum urea, uric acid and creatinine with a significant decrease in creatinine clearance and decreased levels of urea, uric acid and creatinine in urine. The levels of lipid peroxidation markers and nickel concentration in blood and kidney were also increased. While, the activities of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants were decreased. Treatment with naringin attenuated the alterations in the renal and urine markers, decreasing lipid peroxidation markers, increasing the antioxidant cascade and decreasing the nickel concentration in blood and kidney. All these changes were supported by histopathological observations. These findings demonstrate that naringin exerts a protective effect against nickel toxicity.