Rutin ameliorates oxidative stress and preserves hepatic and renal functions following exposure to cadmium and ethanol

Abstract

Context: Rutin (RUT) is an antioxidant flavonoid with well-known metal chelating potentials.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of RUT against cadmium (Cd) + ethanol (EtOH)-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in rats.

Materials and methods: Wistar rats were treated with Cd (50 mg/kg) alone or in combination with EtOH (5 mg/kg) and RUT (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) for 15 days. After treatment, the liver, kidney and serum were removed for biochemical assays by spectrophotometric methods.

Results: Serum, hepatic and renal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were highest in the Cd + EtOH group and lowest in Cd + EtOH animals co-treated with the highest dose of RUT (2.98 ± 0.34, 10.08 ± 2.32, 4.99 ± 1.21 vs. 1.69 ± 0.33, 6.13 ± 0.28, 3.66 ± 1.12 μmol MDA/mg protein, respectively). The serum level of Cd was increased in the Cd + EtOH treated animals compared to Cd + EtOH animals co-treated with 100 mg/kg RUT (2.54 ± 0.08 vs. 1.28 ± 0.04 ppm). Furthermore, RUT at the highest dose protected against Cd + EtOH-induced elevation of bilirubin and uric acid levels as well as activities of lactate dehydrogenase and γ-glutamyl transferase (62.86 ± 2.74 vs. 122.52 ± 6.35 µmol/L; 1.77 ± 0.35 vs. 3.23 ± 0.55 mmol/L; 9.56 ± 1.22 vs. 16.21 ± 1.64 U/L; 288.92 ± 40.12 vs. 159.8 ± 18.01 U/L). The histo-pathological changes in the liver and kidney were also reduced in the Cd + EtOH animals co-treated with RUT in a dose-dependent manner.

Discussion and conclusion: RUT protected against the combined effects of Cd + EtOH on hepatic and renal functions and improved the antioxidant defence system in the blood.

Keywords:

• Serum
• antioxidant
• liver
• kidney
• phytochemicals

Acknowledgment

The assistance of the technical staff in the Department of Biochemistry is acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no financial conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.