Quercetin Treatment Improves Renal Function and Protects the Kidney in a Rat Model of Adenine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the effects of the natural flavonoid, quercetin, in a rat model of adenine-induced chronic kidney disease.Material/MethodsForty male Wister rats were divided into four groups: normal (no adenine or quercetin) (n=10); untreated model (treated withadenine but not quercetin) (n=10); quercetin-treated model (5 mg/kg/day for 21 days) (n=10); quercetin-treated model (10 mg/kg/day for 21 days) (n=10). Urine and blood samples were collected and rat kidneys were examined histologically.ResultsComparison of the findings of the model rats treated with quercetin (n=20) with non-treated model rats (n=10) showed reduced levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23): normal group, 19.6 pg/ml; untreated group, 73.6 pg/ml; quercetin-treated group (5 mg/kg), 34.25 pg/ml; and quercetin-treated group (10 mg/kg), 21.3 pg/ml. Quercetin-treated model rats had reduced serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), inorganic phosphate, increased urine protein-to-creatinine ratio, increased urine antioxidants, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and interleukin (IL)-8 when compared with the untreated model group and the control group. Quercetin treatment 10 mg/kg (n=10) reduced the levels of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and urinary uric acid. Renal histopathology in model rats treated with quercetin (n=20) showed reduced inflammation compared with the untreated model rats (n=10).ConclusionsIn a rat model of adenine-induced chronic kidney disease, treatment with quercetin improved renal function, reduced oxidative stress factors, serum levels of FGF23, and kidney inflammation.

Acetaminophen Induces Alterations to the Renal Tubular Ultrastructure in a Rat Model of Acute Nephrotoxicity Protected by Resveratrol and Quercetin

“…1 and 4, and data not shown) are in agreement with previous reports that showed certain nephrotoxic drugs and chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride (Hermenean et al, 2013) and cisplatin (Nasr, 2013), which were capable of inducing ultrastructural alterations to the glomerulus and proximal convoluted tubule. In addition, our data that points to the beneficial effects of resveratrol plus quercetin which ameliorate the deleterious effects of APAP are in agreement with previously published studies that showed resveratrol protects against several types of renal injury induced by several methods such as diabetic nephropathy, drug-induced injury, and aldosterone-induced renal injury (Kitada & Koya, 2013), and quercetin improved renal function and protected the kidney in a rat model of adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (Yang et al, 2018).…”

Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Chronic Kidney Disease—Potential Therapeutic Role of Minerals, Vitamins and Plant-Derived Metabolites

“…Quercetin reduced the levels of FGF23, PTH, inorganic phosphate and urinary protein-to-creatinine ratios and urinary uric acid, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, as well as increasing the expression of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), SOD and total antioxidant activity, in an adenine-induced CKD rat model [129]. Moreover, quercetin treatment in CKD rats reduced abnormal histopathological renal changes, including chronic interstitial inflammation [130].…”

“…The protective effects of curcumin on kidney damage have been related to the downregulation of profibrotic cytokines, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), TGF-β, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and osteopontin, as well as in extracellular matrix proteins, such as fibronectin and collagen IV [132]. In addition, curcumin has been shown to be able to reduce the progression of structural kidney damage by reducing the glomerulosclerosis index, tubulointerstitial fibrosis and arteriolopathy [130]. Synthetic analogues of curcumin, such as C66, have been shown to improve diabetic nephropathy [131].…”

Retracted: Quercetin alleviates lipopolysaccharide‐induced inflammatory responses by up‐regulation miR‐124 in human renal tubular epithelial cell line HK‐2

“…Quercetin is a valuable flavonoid extracted from Chinese herbal medicines with a variety of biological activities including, but not limited to, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti‐inflammatory activities . He et al elucidated that Quercetin promoted apoptosis of myeloma in vivo and in vitro experiments .…”