Propolis and its therapeutic effects on renal diseases: A review.

Propolis is produced by bees using a mixture of bees wax and saliva. It contains several bioactive compounds that mainly induce anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this review, we aimed to investigate the effects of propolis on kidney diseases. We used "Kidney", "Disease", "Propolis", "Renal", "Constituent", "Mechanism", "Infection", and other related keywords as the main keywords to search for works published before July 2023 in Google scholar, Scopus, and Pubmed databases. The search terms were selected according to Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). This review showed that propolis affects renal disorders with inflammatory and oxidative etiology due to its bioactive compounds, mainly flavonoids and polyphenols. There have been few studies on the effects of propolis on kidney diseases; nevertheless, the available studies are integrated in this review. Overall, propolis appears to be effective against several renal diseases through influencing mechanisms such as apoptosis, oxidative balance, and inflammation.

Glucose increases proliferation and chemoresistance in chronic myeloid leukemia via decreasing antioxidant Properties of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the presence of Iron.

BACKGROUND: There is a strong association between hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, inflammation and the onset and progression of diabetes which causes a higher risk of cancer. This study investigated, the effect of concomitant use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) with iron supplements in hyper-glucose conditions on the K-562 cell line. METHODS: The effects of iron, ω-3 PUFAs, and a combination of both on K-562 cells were investigated under normal and high glucose conditions. The impact of these treatments was evaluated using multiple methodologies, including the MTT assay for cell viability, quantification of oxidative stress markers [total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA)], and analysis of the cell cycle. Furthermore, the expression levels of TNFα and p53 mRNA were measured using Real-time PCR. RESULTS: The co-treatment of ω-3 PUFAs and iron in the presence of high glucose had notable effects, as evidenced by an increase in cell survival, resistance to imatinib chemotherapy, TNFαmRNA expression levels, MDA levels, and percentage of cells in the G2/S phase. Additionally, there was a decrease in the mRNA expression of p53 and TAC levels compared to treatment in the normal-glucose condition. CONCLUSION: Hyperglycemic conditions in conjunction with the combined treatment of theω-3 PUFAs and iron, led to reduced anticancer capacity, chemosensitivity, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the K-562 cells. These effects were found to be mediated by oxidative stress.

Effects of Dichloromethane and N-Butanol Fractions of Nigella sativa on ACHN and GP-293 Cell Line Morphology, Viability, and Apoptosis.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is among the top death-causing cancers. Medicinal herbs can also have beneficial effects on RCC treatment. In this project, we aimed to study the antitumor effect of dichloromethane and N-butanol fractions of hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) on the morphology, viability, and apoptosis of ACHN (human renal adenocarcinoma) and GP-293 (normal renal epithelial) cell lines. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, N-butanol and dichloromethane fractions of N. sativa were obtained, and ACHN and GP293 cell lines were treated with various concentrations of dichloromethane (0-100 µg/mL) and N-butanol (0-12.5 µg/mL) fractions for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Then, morphological changes, viability, and apoptosis were investigated. Results: Our results indicated that dichloromethane and N-butanol fractions cause morphological changes and significant decreases in the percentage of live cells in the ACHN cell line, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In the GP-293 cell line, however, a lower toxicity was observed in comparison with that found for ACHN. The results of flow cytometry showed an apoptotic effect of dichloromethane and N-butanol fractions on the ACHN cell line but a higher rate of apoptosis induction for the total extract compared to the two fractions in the renal cancer cell line compared to the normal cell line. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that these two fractions of N. sativa induce inhibitory effects on the ACHN cell line morphology and viability. These effects were lower than those induced by the total extract. In addition, the two fractions caused more marked effects in the renal cancer cell line compared with the GP-293 cell line.

The testicular protective effects of standardised hydroalcoholic extract of Ziziphus jujuba Mill against adriamycin-induced toxicity.

In this study, because of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of the Ziziphus jujuba (ZJ), we assessed the protective properties of the ZJ extract against testis toxicity caused by Adriamycin in the rat. Twenty rats were grouped into (a) control, (b) Adriamycin, (c) ZJ group and (d) treatment group in which Adriamycin was administrated and the ZJ hydroalcoholic extract was used for three weeks. On the 21st day, two testes were removed to determine the oxidation markers and pathological evaluation. The levels of sex hormones were determined. Epididymis also was crushed, and its spermatozoa were evaluated as concentration, motility and normality. Adriamycin increased oxidative stress markers as well as Luteinising hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone and decreased testosterone levels compared to control. In the treated group, the levels of the above markers improved. The decreased number and motility of spermatozoa in treatment group increased, and the increased rate of abnormal spermatozoa in this group decreased. Pathological evaluations also show the healing process of damaged testicular tissue in the group receiving the ZJ extract. The ZJ extract relatively improves oxidative stress, sperm characteristics, hormonal alternation and pathological changes. These findings reveal the probable role of ZJ effective compounds in repairing tissue damage.

Thymoquinone alleviates renal interstitial fibrosis and kidney dysfunction in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) causes severe renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Because of many pharmacologic properties of thymoquinone (TQ), in this study, the effects of TQ against kidney fibrosis and dysfunction were investigated in rats with UUO. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Sham operated, UUO, and the animals with UUO treated with losartan, captopril, or TQ. Collagen IV and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 expressions, interstitial fibrosis, histological changes, and kidney function were assessed. UUO markedly increased renal expression of TGF-ß1 and collagen I and induced interstitial fibrosis (p < .001). Losartan, captopril, or TQ significantly downregulated the expression of these fibrotic markers and interstitial fibrosis (p < .01-p < .001). In UUO group, serum levels of urea and creatinine and protein excretion rate significantly increased, but glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urine osmolarity showed a significant decrease (p < .001-p < .05). Administration of captopril and TQ caused no significant change in serum urea and protein excretion rate. Unlike losartan and captopril, TQ caused no significant alteration in GFR compared with Day 1. Losartan caused significant increases in serum urea and creatinine but significant decrease in urine osmolarity. TQ could be regarded as a potent therapeutic agent for treatment of UUO-induced kidney fibrosis and dysfunction.

Plantago major protects against cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction and tissue damage in rats.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of Plantago major (P. major) on cisplatin-induced kidney injury in the rat. Cisplatin was injected on the 6th day of the experiment. Animals were treated with P. major extract (300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg) and Vitamin E for five days before and two weeks after cisplatin administration. Cisplatin caused a significant decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine osmolarity, and urinary excretion rate of potassium, but significant increase in the kidney index and histological damage compared with the control group. Administration of Vitamin E and P. major (300 and 600 mg/kg) significantly increased GFR compared to cisplatin group. Furthermore, urine osmolarity in Vitamin E and P. major (600 mg/kg) groups were significantly elevated compared to the cisplatin group. P. major (600 mg/kg) significantly increased the urinary excretion rate of potassium compared with cisplatin group. Furthermore, all doses of P. major and Vitamin E significantly attenuated the percentage of kidney tissue damage compared to the cisplatin group. However, only P. major (600 mg/kg) and Vitamin E treated rats showed a significant reduction in the kidney index. This study revealed that P. major extract in a dose-dependent manner provides protection against renal damage induced by cisplatin.

Nigella sativa extract is a potent therapeutic agent for renal inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is a well-established experimental model to evaluate renal interstitial fibrosis. Current study is aimed to investigate the effects of Nigella sativa (NS) extract and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade against kidney damage following UUO in rats. In this study, the rats received intraperitoneal injection of losartan (15 mg/kg), captopril (30 mg/kg), and two doses of NS extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 18 consecutive days. At the fourth day of the experiment, laparotomy was performed, and the left ureter was ligated. Sham-operated animals received saline as vehicle, and laparotomy without ureteral ligation was done. UUO was associated with significant increase in the expression of renal angiotensin II and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, concentration of malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor-α, and the number of apoptotic cells when compared with sham group. Renal total thiol content and the activity of antioxidant enzymes were significantly reduced as compared with the sham group. However, treatment of obstructed rats with losartan, captopril, and NS extract significantly improved these renal impairments when compared with UUO group. Thus, NS extract, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory herb, is a therapeutic agent to treat the UUO-induced kidney damage comparable with the well-known RAS inhibitors captopril and losartan.

Protection Against Doxorubicin-induced Nephropathy by Plantago major in Rat.

INTRODUCTION: Nephropathy is an important side effect of doxorubicin. The aim of the current study was to investigate the protective effect of Plantago major extract against doxorubicin-induced functional and histological damage in rat's kidney. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty Albino rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Doxorubicin, 5 mg/kg, was injected intravenously on the 7th day of the study. Animals were treated with dexamethasone, 0.9 mg/kg, vitamin E, 100 mg/kg, and P major extract, 600 mg/kg and 1200 mg/kg, for 7 days before and 4 weeks after doxorubicin administration. Glomerular filtration rate, urea clearance, and urine glucose concentration were determined on the 1st day and 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after doxorubicin injection. Histological changes were also examined and the end of the study. RESULTS: Doxorubicin caused significant decreases in glomerular filtration rate and urea clearance and significant glycosuria and kidney damage. Urea clearance in the rats treated with P major showed no significant change between different days of the experiment. Administration of dexamethasone, vitamin E, and low- and high-dose P major significantly improved the glycosuria and kidney tissue damage. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that hydroalcoholic extract of P major protected renal tissue against doxorubicin-induced nephropathy. The protective effects of P major on renal lesions associated with doxorubicin may be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.

Renoprotective effect of Nigella sativa against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in rat.

Cisplatin is one of the important antineoplastic drugs. Its clinical use has been restricted due to severe kidney toxicity. Nigella sativa (N. sativa) is an herbaceous plant with many pharmacologic effects. In the present study, we evaluated the protective effects of aqueous-ethanolic extract of N. sativa and Vitamin E on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Eighty male rats were divided into eight groups: control, cisplatin (6 mg/kg; ip), preventive Vitamin E (100 mg/kg), preventive N. sativa (100,200 mg/kg), preventive + treatment Vitamin E, and preventive + treatment N. sativa (100, 200 mg/kg). Duration of this study was 11 days and cisplatin was injected on the 6th day of the experiment. Tissue damage in all groups that received N. sativa extract and Vitamin E showed a significant improvement compared with the cisplatin group. In addition, serum and tissue total thiol content in preventive and preventive + treatment N. sativa groups showed significant increase compared with cisplatin group. There was no significant difference in serum malondialdehyde concentration of the control rats compared with the preventive and preventive + treatment N. sativa groups. N. sativa extract and viamin E improved the pathology and oxidative stress in the rat kidney. However, more studies are needed to determine the mechanism of action of N. sativa on cisplatin-induced kidney toxicity.

Effect of total hydroalcholic extract of Nigella sativa and its n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions on ACHN and GP-293 cell lines.

Medicinal plants are noted for their many advantages including the ability to treat diseases such as cancer. In this study, we examined the antitumor effect of the medicinal plant Nigella sativa on the morphology, survival, and apoptosis of ACHN (human renal adenocarcinoma) and GP-293 (normal renal epithelial) cell lines. From a hydroalcoholic extract of N. sativa, n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions were extracted. Cells were treated with various concentrations of total hydroalcholic extract and n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions; cell viability, morphological changes, and apoptosis were then determined. Results were presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied for the statistical analysis of the data. The total extract and the fractions in a dose- and time-dependent manner reduced the cell viability in ACHN with no effect on the GP-293 cell line. In addition, the total extract resulted in more morphological changes in the ACHN cells compared to the GP-293 cells. The effect of the total extract in inducing apoptosis after 48 hours in the ACHN cell line was greater than in GP-293. In addition, the effect of the two fractions was lower than the total extract at all used concentrations. Therefore, the effect of total extract and n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions of N. sativa on cell viability and apoptosis in the ACHN cell line is greater than in the GP-293 cell line. However, the effect of the total extract is higher than either of the two fractions on their own.