Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of oral administration of naringenin in combination with an aqueous mixture of coconut water (CW) and Arabic gum (AG) on renal function, lipid profile, antioxidant activity, and morphology in gentamicin-induced kidney injury in rats.
Materials and methods: Forty adult male Wistar rats were equally divided into four groups. 1-Negative control group, 2-positive control group (Gentamicin), 3-Naringenin+AG+CW, 4-Gentamicin+Naringenin+AG+CW: groups 2 and 4 were treated with gentamicin. After six weeks, the rats were anesthetized with diethyl ether, and blood was collected by cardiac puncture and dissected to collect the kidneys. Biochemical studies were performed to determine the levels of urea, creatinine, lipids, total antioxidant capacity, and lipid peroxide, antioxidant enzyme activity in the kidney, total phenolic content (TPC), radical-scavenging activity, calcium, magnesium, and potassium in AG, CW, and their mixture. Also, kidney histopathology was performed.
Results: Renal injury manifests as elevated serum urea and creatinine levels. A significant increase in total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and malondialdehyde (MDA) was also noted. The activities of antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reduced glutathione (GSH) significantly decreased in the serum. There was a reduction in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activities in kidney homogenates. Gentamicin administration induces morphological changes in the kidneys. Oral administration of naringenin+AG+CW significantly overturned all of the above-mentioned abnormalities.
Conclusions: These results show that the naringenin+AG+CW combination exhibited an additive effect against renal dysfunction and structural damage through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, as well as replenishing and balancing intracellular and extracellular electrolytes. Therefore, oral administration of these three ingredients could potentially provide better protection and serve as a unique therapeutic tool against nephrotoxicity caused by gentamicin.