Humic acid attenuates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, a major limitation of this chemotherapeutic agent, involves oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. This study investigated the potential renoprotective effects of humic acid in a rat model of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Forty-two male Wistar rats were assigned to six groups: control, humic acid, cisplatin, cisplatin + humic acid 10 mg/kg, cisplatin + humic acid 20 mg/kg, and cisplatin + humic acid 40 mg/kg. On day 7, the rats were sacrificed, and cardiac blood and kidneys were collected for biochemical and histopathological examinations. Humic acid administration significantly attenuated the cisplatin-induced increases in renal TNF-α and NF-κB levels, indicating a reduction in inflammation. Humic acid also ameliorated histopathological damage, including Bowman's capsule dilatation, tubular cell degeneration, and hemorrhage. However, humic acid did not significantly alter oxidative stress parameters or caspase-3 levels. Humic acid demonstrates a protective effect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats, primarily by mitigating the inflammatory response. While HA's beneficial effects on oxidative stress and apoptosis were limited in this study, its ability to reduce inflammation highlights its potential as a therapeutic strategy to mitigate cisplatin-induced kidney injury.