Comparative study of the anti-inflammatory activity of etoricoxib and Matcha green tea against acute kidney injury induced by gamma radiation in rats

Abstract

Purpose

The primary objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the anti-inflammatory activity between Etoricoxib (ETO) and Matcha green tea (MG) in the context of acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by ionizing gamma radiation (IR) in female rats. Furthermore, the potential impact of whole body IR exposure on the intestinal system and serum estradiol levels was investigated. Additionally, it was acknowledged that the ETO and MG treatments might have exerted favorable effects on the intestinal and hormonal responses.

Materials and Methods

Six groups of rats were assigned to different treatments: control, ETO, MG, irradiation (IRR), ETO + IRR, and MG + IRR. The evaluation included measuring the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of ETO and MG, as well as assessing their antioxidant activity, radical scavenging capacity, reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity. Kidney function was assessed through serum creatinine and urea levels. Oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase, glutathione, malondialdehyde, and catalase, were measured to evaluate the antioxidant effects of ETO and MG. The anti-inflammatory potential of the treatments was evaluated by measuring STAT-3 and interleukins (IL-6, IL-23, and IL-17) using an ELISA assay. Prostaglandin E2 receptor (PGE-2) mRNA expression, histopathological examination, and immunohistochemistry for NF-κB inhibitors were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms in kidney tissue homogenates. Histopathological changes and DNA fragmentation in the intestinal tissues were determined, and the characterization of Matcha green tea was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This allowed for the identification and quantification of various compounds present in Matcha green tea. Furthermore, the study assessed the effect of IR and treatments on estrogen levels in female rats.

Results

Data showed that both ETO and MG had the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of AKI induced by IR. Notably, MG exhibited greater efficacy in attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation associated with renal injury. These findings revealed and compared the effects of ETO and MG in alleviating AKI caused by IR. MG demonstrated greater anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent.

Conclusions

These results contribute to the growing evidence supporting the use of MG in managing IR-induced renal complications. Future studies should focus on elucidating the molecular mechanisms and optimizing the application of MG in clinical settings.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

This study is of significant importance as it compares the therapeutic potential of ETO and MG in mitigating AKI and intestinal damage induced by IR. The findings reveal that MG exhibits greater anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties compared to ETO. These results provide valuable insights into the potential use of MG as a natural therapeutic agent for managing IR-induced renal and intestinal complications. As radiation therapy is commonly used in cancer treatment, identifying effective agents to protect the kidneys from radiation damage is crucial. The study contributes to the growing evidence supporting the application of MG in clinical settings, offering a promising alternative approach with potential benefits in terms of reduced side effects and improved patient outcomes.

Keywords:

• toricoxib
• Matcha green tea
• acute kidney injury
• gamma radiation
• inflammatory markers

Acknowledgment

The authors are thankful to the National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt, for providing support to complete research.

Ethical approval

All rats were handled and treated with care by the ethical guidelines for the treatment and use of laboratory animals. The Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority’s National Center for Radiation and Technology’s Ethics Research Committee updated the protocol and gave it their approval (REC-NCRRT-31A/23).

Authors’ contribution

Khateeb, S.: conceptualized and gathered the data about this work, methodology, writing – review, and editing. Taha, E.: conceptualized and gathered the data with regard to this work, methodology, data analyses, writing, and helped in review.

Consent for publication

Applicable and approved by National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s). The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study is included in this publication. The raw data supporting the conclusion of this article will be made available by the authors without undue reservation.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests and did not receive support from any organization for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Notes on contributors

Sahar Khateeb

Sahar Khateeb, an assistant professor at Fayoum University in Egypt, as well as the University of Tabuk in the KSA. My specialty is clinical biochemistry. My research interests include nanoparticle preparation and the study of antioxidants and their effects. Web of Science author profile: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/op/publications/summary; Google Scholar author profile: https://scholar.google.at/citations?hl=ar&pli=1&user=xjcb7AsAAAAJ&gmla.

Eman F.S. Taha

Eman F.S. Taha, an experienced biochemist and lecturer specializing in radiation research and pharmaceutical science. With a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Science and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, I have contributed to cutting-edge pharmaceutical technologies and conducted research in ionizing radiation effects. Google Scholar author profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=bSCP8oIAAAAJ&hl=en.