Protective Effects of Fragaria ananassa Extract Against Cadmium Chloride-Induced Acute Renal Toxicity in Rats
Abstract For experiments of cadmium toxicity in animal
models, cadmium (II) chloride is often used due to its solubility
in water and its ability to produce high concentrations of
cadmium at the target site. The present study was designed to
investigate the potential inhibitory effect of the Fragaria
ananassa fruit extract on cadmium (II) chloride-induced renal
toxicity in rats. Tested animals were pretreated with the extract
of F. ananassa and injected with cadmium (II) chloride (6.5-
mg/kg body weight) for 5 days. Cadmium (II) chloride significantly
increased kidney cadmium concentration, kidney
weight, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide production.
Plasma uric acid, urea, and creatinine levels also increased
significantly, indicative of kidney dysfunction. These effects
were accompanied by significantly decreased levels of nonenzymatic
and enzymatic antioxidant molecules (i.e., glutathione
content and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase,
glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase).
Moreover, messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of the
antiapoptotic protein, Bcl-2, and the antioxidant proteins, superoxide
dismutase 2 and glutathione reductase, were downregulated
markedly, whereas mRNA expression of tumor necrosis
factor-α was upregulated significantly in kidney tissues
of cadmium-treated rats. Histology of kidney tissue demonstrated
severe, adverse changes that reflected cadmiuminduced
tissue damage. Pretreatment of rats with the extract
of F. ananassa ameliorated all aforementioned cadmium (II)
chloride-induced changes. In conclusion, the present study
showed acute renal toxicity in rats treated with cadmium (II)
chloride. The study also revealed that pretreatment with the
extract of F. ananassa could protect the kidney against cadmium
(II) chloride-induced acute renal toxicity.
Keywords Fragaria ananassa . Cadmium . Nephrotoxicity .
Redox status . Apoptosis . Rats
