The hydroalcoholic extract of Nasturtium officinale protectively inhibits apoptotic and inflammatory pathways in hepato- and nephrotoxicity: An in vivo study

Abstract

Objective: Nasturtium officinale (N. officinale (NO)) has been widely used in traditional medicine. This study investigates the protective effects of NO against hepatic and renal damage induced by CCl4 and gentamicin, respectively, in rats.Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into two arms: A (CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity) and B (gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity). Seventeen groups were formed by dividing arms A and B, with nine groups in arm A and eight groups in arm B (n=5). Rats were daily treated with various doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg BW) of N. officinale extract (NOE) (Total extract; Oral gavage) for 14 and 28 days in arm A and B, respectively. Biochemical and histopathological evaluations and gene expression analyses were conducted on blood, liver, and kidney tissues.Results: NOE treatment significantly modulated B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X (Bax) and B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) expression in kidney tissue, reducing Bax (p<0.01) and increasing Bcl-2 (p<0.05). In liver tissue, NOE inhibited tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (p<0.01) and Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) (p<0.001), while reducing AST and ALT activity (p<0.001). Additionally, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels significantly decreased (p<0.05) in nephrotoxic rats.Conclusion: Our findings highlight the capability of NOE as a promising therapeutic against liver and kidney damage induced by CCl4 and gentamicin, respectively, in animal models.