Protective effect of rutin on hexachlorobutadiene-induced nephrotoxicity

Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) is a potent nephrotoxin which nowadays contaminates human foods and water. On the other hands, it has been reported that rutin is a chemopreventive flavonoid which exerts some protective effects on the kidney. Therefore, in this work, the possible effect of rutin on HCBD-induced nephrotoxicity was investigated in female rats. The animals were divided into five groups. Groups 1 and 2 were treated with vehicle and HCBD (100 mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. Groups 3-5 were pretreated with rutin (100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 h before HCBD injection. The level of serum urea and creatinine as well as urinary glucose and protein were measured. Total thiol content and lipid peroxidation level were also determined in the kidney homogenate. When compared to control group, a significant increase in the level of serum creatinine and urea (p < 0.001) as well as urine glucose and protein (p < 0.001) were observed after 24 h of HCBD administration. HCBD also caused a significant decrease in total thiol content (p < 0.001) and a significant increase in lipid peroxidation level (p < 0.001). Pretreatment with rutin could decrease serum creatinine (p < 0.001) and urea (p < 0.001) as well as urine protein (p < 0.001) concentrations when compared with HCBD treated rats. No significant modification on urine glucose was seen (p > 0.05). Rutin also reversed the HCBD-induced depletion in thiol content (p < 0.001) and elevation in lipid peroxidation (p < 0.001) in the kidney. The results of present study showed that rutin clearly attenuated HCBD-induced nephrotoxicity and has the potential to be considered as a nephroprotective agent.