Vanillin mitigates the adverse impact of cisplatin and methotrexate on rat kidneys

The present study investigated the probable protective effect of vanillin (VLN) against kidney injury induced by cisplatin (CSN) and methotrexate (MTX) in rats. The rats received a single injection of either CSN (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.) or MTX (20 mg/kg, i.p.). VLN treatment (150 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was started 1 day before administration of the nephrotoxic agents and continued for 7 days. Both CSN and MTX significantly increased serum creatinine, cystatin C, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and kidney tissue renal malondialdehyde, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-18, nuclear factor-κB p65, cytosolic cytochrome C, and caspase-3 and significantly decreased renal total antioxidant capacity and Bcl-2/Bax ratio in rats. VLN significantly ameliorated the changes of biochemical parameters induced by CSN and MTX. VLN also significantly reduced CSN- and MTX-induced histopathological injury and the expression of Fas ligand in rat kidneys. In conclusion, VLN significantly protected against CSN- and MTX-induced kidney injury in rats by inhibiting oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.