Effect of Lycopene and Rosmarinic Acid on Gentamicin Induced Renal Cortical Oxidative stress, Apoptosis and Autophagy in Adult Male Albino Rat

Gentamicin nephrotoxicity accounts for 10–15% of all cases of acute renal failure. Several natural antioxidants were found to be effective against drug-induced toxicity. The possible protective effects of lycopene (Lyc) and rosmarinic acid (RA) alone or combined on gentamicin (Gen) induced renal cortical oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy were evaluated. Sixty three rats were randomly divided into seven groups named: control, group II received RA 50 mg/kg/day, group III received Lyc 4 mg/kg/day, group IV received Gen 100 mg/kg/day, group V (RA + Gen), group VI (Lyc + Gen) and group VII (RA + Lyc + Gen). At the end of the experiment, kidney functions were estimated then the kidneys were sampled for histopathological, immunohistochemistry and biochemical studies. Administration of rosmarinic acid and lycopene decreased elevated serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, renal malondialdehyde and immunoexpression of the proapoptotic protein (Bax), autophagic marker protein (LC3/B) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induced by gentamicin. They increased reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and immunoexpression of the antiapoptotic protein (Bcl2). They also improved the histopathological changes induced by gentamicin. The combination therapy of rosmarinic acid and lycopene shows better protective effects than the corresponding monotherapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.