The protective role of crocin in tartrazine induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats

The present study was conducted to investigate the changes in rat kidney tissues after administration of tartrazine (T) and crocine (Cr). The latter was applied for its protective properties. The present study was conducted with the approval of Inonu University, Faculty of Medicine, Experimental Animals Ethics Committee. Forty rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups (Control, T, Cr, T + Cr). At the end of the experiment, the rats were decapitated. Biochemical and histopathological studies were conducted on excised rat kidney tissues. It was determined that there was a significant increase in MDA, TOS, SOD, CAT, Bun, Creatinine levels in tartrazine administered rat kidney tissues for 21 days, while GSH and TAS levels decreased (P ≤ 0.05) when compared to all other groups. On the other hand, it was identified that Cr administration statistically significantly increased GSH and TAS levels in rat kidney tissues when compared to all other groups and decreased MDA and TOS levels to control group levels (P < 0.05). T group kidney sections exhibited different degrees of collapse in the glomeruli. In most sections, different levels of inflammatory cell infiltration and vascular and capillary congestion were detected in peritubular interstitial tissue. It was determined that T leads to adverse effects on rat kidney tissues. Administration of Cr + T prevented T induced nephrotoxicity. Thus, it was concluded that Cr could be utilized as a new type of anti-tartrazine toxicity agent.