Curcumin alleviates acute kidney injury in a dry‐heat environment by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in a rat model

Abstract

Curcumin exhibits anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant activities. We investigated the protective effects of curcumin in a renal injury rat model under dry‐heat conditions. We divided Sprague‐Dawley rats into four groups: dry‐heat 0‐ (normal temperature control group), 50‐, 100‐, and 150‐minute groups. Each group was divided into five subgroups (n = 10): normal saline (NS), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMCNa), and curcumin pretreated low, medium, and high‐dose (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, respectively) groups. Compared to the normal temperature group, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urinary kidney injury molecule‐1, and neutrophil gelatinase‐associated load changes in lipoprotein (NGAL) levels were significantly increased in the dry‐heat environment group (P < .05); inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) expression and malondialdehyde (MDA) and related inflammatory factor levels were increased in the kidney tissue. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were decreased. However, following all curcumin pretreatment, the serum levels of kidney injury indicators and NGAL were decreased in the urine compared to those in the NS and CMCNa groups (P < .05), whereas renal SOD and CAT activities were increased and MDA was decreased (P < .05). Renal tissues of the 150‐minute group showed obvious pathological changes. Compared to the NS group, pathological changes in the renal tissues of the 100‐ and 200‐mg/kg curcumin groups were significantly reduced. Furthermore, iNOS and COX‐2 expression and inflammatory factor levels were decreased after curcumin treatment. Curcumin exerted renoprotective effects that were likely mediated by its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects in a dry‐heat environment rat model.

Cadmium-Induced Kidney Injury in Mice Is Counteracted by a Flavonoid-Rich Extract of Bergamot Juice, Alone or in Association with Curcumin and Resveratrol, via the Enhancement of Different Defense Mechanisms

“…We demonstrated that Cur, Re and BJe administration, alone or in combination, reversed Cd-induced nephrotoxicity by reducing the elevated levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen in the serum of Cd-treated mice reaching the maxim effect with BJe 40 mg/kg and with both association Cur 50 mg/kg + Re 20 mg/kg + BJe 20 mg/kg and Cur 100 mg/kg + Re 20 mg/kg + BJe 40 mg/kg. This finding was in accordance with previous research showing the improvement of nephrotoxicity by Cur and Re in other experimental models [ 55 , 56 ].…”

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidative Effects of Isorhamnetin for Protection Against Lung Injury in a Rat Model of Heatstroke in a Dry-Heat Environment

“…After 150 min, the core body temperature of the HS group reached above 40.5°C, and the dry-heat heatstroke rat model was successfully established. The process of model creation replicated our previous study [ 11 ]. All rats were subsequently anesthetized with 3% pentobarbital sodium and killed.…”

“…Past studies have mostly been conducted in humid-heat environments, but, contrary to popular expectations, there is limited evidence of a positive correlation between high humidity and mortality [ 10 ]. However, exposure to a dry-heat environment increases the risk of heatstroke under the influence of dehydration and other adverse factors [ 11 ]. Therefore, viable methods for preventing and treating heatstroke combined with lung injury are urgently needed.…”

Inflammatory Mediation of Heat Stress-Induced Growth Deficits in Livestock and Its Potential Role as a Target for Nutritional Interventions: A Review

“…Like many supplements, studies using curcumin as an intervention for heat stress have not been performed in ruminant livestock to our knowledge. However, heat-stressed rats had less severe increases in renal TNFα, IL-6, and IL-1β expression when receiving oral supplementation of curcumin [ 138 ]. This was perhaps indicative of reduced inflammation in a broader range of tissues, as it also coincided with less muscle damage.…”