Paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats: the protective role of Nigella sativa

Figures & data

Table 1. Experimental protocols in the eight nephrotoxicity groups.

Group
I	Sham	Orally water 2 ml + sham operation
II	Sham + NS	Orally NS 1000 mg/kg + sham operation
III	Sham + NAC	Orally NAC 140 mg/kg + sham operation
IV	Paracetamol	Orally paracetamol 2 g/kg
V	Paracetamol + NAC	Orally paracetamol 2 g/kg + NAC 140 mg/kg
VI	Paracetamol + NS 250 mg/kg	Orally paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 250 mg/kg
VII	Paracetamol + NS 500 mg/kg	Orally paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 500 mg/kg
VIII	Paracetamol + NS 1000 mg/kg	Orally paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 1000 mg/kg

NS: Nigella sativa L. ethanol extract; NAC: N-acetylcysteine.

Table 2. Effects of NS treatments on changes in paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Group	Urea (U/L)	Creatinine (U/L)
Sham	49.80 ± 11.91^a	0.31 ± 0.08^a
Sham + NS 1000 mg/kg	48.64 ± 5.57^a	0.37 ± 0.11^ab
Sham + NAC 140 mg/kg	46.30 ± 12.72^a	0.38 ± 0.09^ab
Paracetamol 2 g/kg	88.05 ± 25.69^c	0.80 ± 0.21^d
Paracetamol 2 g/kg + NAC 140 mg/kg	59.86 ± 12.67^ab	0.55 ± 0.25^c
Paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 250 mg/kg	65.60 ± 11.57^b	0.64 ± 0.16^c
Paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 500 mg/kg	56.00 ± 14.52^ab	0.57 ± 0.07^c
Paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 1000 mg/kg	54.18 ± 8.50^ab	0.52 ± 0.11^bc

Results are means ± SD. Means in the same column with the same superscript are not significantly different compared with the Duncan test (p = 0.05). NS: Nigella sativa L. ethanol extract; NAC: N-acetylcysteine.

Table 3. Effects of NS treatments on tissue SOD activity and GSH and MDA levels in paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Group	SOD (U/mg protein)	GSH (nmol/mg protein)	MDA (nmol/mg protein)
Sham	44.97 ± 8.98^b	2.39 ± 0.43^bc	1.80 ± 0.68^a
Sham + NS 1000 mg/kg	45.69 ± 10.62^b	2.61 ± 0.54^c	1.76 ± 0.40^a
Sham + NAC 140 mg/kg	41.22 ± 10.95^b	2.46 ± 0.65^c	2.08 ± 0.76^ab
Paracetamol 2 g/kg	23.31 ± 6.62^a	1.32 ± 0.42^a	4.06 ± 0.29^d
Paracetamol 2 g/kg + NAC 140 mg/kg	36.31 ± 13.25^b	2.08 ± 0.47^bc	2.81 ± 0.74^bc
Paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 250 mg/kg	25.79 ± 8.79^a	1.85 ± 0.40^b	3.16 ± 1.59^c
Paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 500 mg/kg	39.40 ± 8.91^b	2.08 ± 0.59^bc	3.23 ± 0.58^c
Paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 1000 mg/kg	46.54 ± 9.11^b	2.26 ± 0.51^bc	2.26 ± 0.53^ab

Results are means ± SD. Means in the same column with the same superscript are not significantly different compared to the Duncan test (p = 0.05). NS: Nigella sativa L. ethanol extract; NAC: N-acetylcysteine.

Figure 1. Histopathological score differences in groups. *Indicates that histopathological score significantly greater than the sham group, #indicates that histopathological score is significantly lower than the paracetamol 2 g/kg group, p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Figure 2. (A) Normal structure of kidney in control group. Haematoxylin and eosin. Magnification 200×. (B) Stained sections of kidney of sham + NS 1000 mg/kg group. Slight degenerations were seen. Haematoxylin and eosin. Magnification 200×. (C) Stained sections of kidney of sham + NAC 140 mg/kg group. Similar appearance to the control group. Haematoxylin and eosin. Magnification 200×. (D) Stained sections of kidney of paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 250 mg/kg group. Haematoxylin and eosin. Magnification 200×. (E) Paracetamol-administered rat kidney. Severe necrosis, congestion and extravasation of red blood cells were seen. Haematoxylin and eosin. Magnification 200×. (F) Stained sections of kidney of paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 500 mg/kg. Slightly to mild degenerations were seen. Haematoxylin and eosin. Magnification 200×. (G) Paracetamol 2 g/kg + NAC 140 mg/kg group. Structures of kidney were similar to the control group. Haematoxylin and eosin. Magnification 200×. (H) Paracetamol 2 g/kg + NS 1000 mg/kg group. Structures of kidney were similar to the control group. Haematoxylin and eosin. Magnification 100×.