Investigation of the effects of quercetin and hesperidin on oxidative stress and kidney damage on cyclophosphamide-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a potent agent that is widely used in chemotherapy. It is thought that flavonoids may have positive effects on nephrotoxicity, one of the serious side effects of CP. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of Quercetin (QUE) and Hesperidin (HSP) against oxidative stress and kidney damage in CP-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. In the experiment, 36 Wistar male rats were given QUE (100 mg/kg/day) and HSP (100 mg/kg/day) supplementation by intragastric method for 15 days. It was sacrificed after a single dose (i.p.) CP (200 mg/kg/day) was administered on the 15th day. During the application, the amount of feed consumption was recorded daily, body weights and fasting blood glucose levels were measured three times. At the end of the experiment, serum urea, uric acid, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin and total protein were measured from the blood samples taken from the rats by intracardiac method using appropriate commercial kits. When the experiment was completed, kidney tissue sections were examined with a light microscope in terms of histopathological changes, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in this tissue were examined. SPSS program was used in the statistical evaluation of the findings obtained as a result of the research. It has been shown that CP injection increases the biochemical parameters: serum urea, uric acid, creatinine, BUN and total protein levels in the rat kidneys (p<0.05) and decreases the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx and GST) forming the enzymatic defense line(p<0.05). It has been determined that CP exposure develops serious pathological findings on kidney tissue, therefore it is a nephrotoxic agent and also increases the amount of MDA, which is a product of lipid peroxidation (p:0.001). It has been observed that QUE and HSP supplements prevent the increase in serum urea, uric acid, creatinine, BUN and total protein levels caused by CP exposure (p<0.05), increase SOD, CAT, GPx and GST activities (p<0.05), and reduce nephrotoxicity by improving pathological findings in kidney tissue. As a result, considering the effects of CP on oxidative stress and renal tissue damage, it is thought that it may be useful to establish dietary habits rich in antioxidants, especially QUE and HSP, against oxidative stress and organ toxicities such as nephrotoxicity in patients using drugs containing this active substance, and supplements under the control of a doctor when necessary.