The ameliorative effects of cinnamum zeylanicum extract on renal functions and oxidative stress against fluoxetine drug in male rats

Abstract

Objective: To determine the possible protective effects of cinnamon against fluoxetine impact on the renal function, lipid profiles and  oxidative stress.

Design: Thirty-two males mature albino rats weighing about 250 ± 5 g were divided into four random experimental groups, control  group, FLX group (administered fluoxetine drug), Cin group (administered cinnamon extract) and FLX+ Cin group for 60 days.

Samples: Blood samples were collected from retroorbital venous sinus for separation of serum for measurement of kidney function, liver  function and lipid profiles. After dissection, the left kidney was taken for determination of antioxidants and oxidative stress parameters,  histopathological evaluation of changes moreover detection for gene expression analysis of caspase, renin and NRF2 genes.

Procedures:  The control group received distilled water only and standard ration. FLX group administered oral dose of fluoxetine 10 mg/kg Bwt by  gavage tube. Cin group administered an aqueous cinnamon extract oral dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. FLX+ Cin group received  fluoxetine at a concentration of 10 mg/kg body weight and after 30 minutes received an aqueous cinnamon extract at dose of 50 mg/kg  body weight.

Results: Administration of fluoxetine exhibited a higher level of urea, uric acid and creatinine with a lower level of total protein compared to control group. Administration of Cin alone or with FLX improved kidney functions in addition to improvement in antioxidant  parameters. Marked increase was detected in FLX group compared to the Cin and Cin+FLX groups. In addition, Administration of  cinnamon with fluoxetine drug for two months leads to a significant improvement in the lipid profiles when compared to control group.  Moreover, there was a significant upregulation (p < 0.05) in the mRNA expression level of renin and caspase 3 genes in the kidney of FLX  and FLX + Cin treated groups when compared to the control group. Conversely, the expression level of the renal NRF2 was statistically  downregulated (p < 0.05) in FLX group counterweight to the control group. Also, there was a marked elevation (p < 0.05) in the renal NRF2  transcriptional level in Cin treated group. Histopathological pictures of H&E-stained renal sections showing normal glomeruli and  tubules in control group and Cin group. However, tubular dilation with renal epithelial cells degeneration, necrosis and fibrosis were  detected in FLX group.

Conclusion and clinical relevance: Cinnamon is a medicinal plant, when used to counteract the negative effect of  long administration of fluoxetine drug on renal tissue and protect the kidney to develop renal failure through antioxidant effects.