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Nephroprotective Effects of Quercetin-Selenium Nanoparticles Against Glycerol-Induced AKI
Ahmed M Ashour1, Ali Khames2, Khaled M Alam-ElDein3
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 13578, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|December 30, 2025
Summary
Quercetin-selenium nanoparticles (QUR-SeNPs) show significant protective effects against acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by glycerol. This novel nanoparticle formulation offers superior nephroprotection compared to quercetin or selenium alone.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Nanomedicine
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical condition with high morbidity and mortality, often resulting from conditions like rhabdomyolysis.
- Glycerol-induced rhabdomyolysis is a well-established experimental model for studying AKI.
- Oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis are key pathological mechanisms in AKI development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nephroprotective potential of eco-synthesized quercetin-selenium nanoparticles (QUR-SeNPs) against glycerol-induced AKI in a rat model.
- To compare the efficacy of QUR-SeNPs with quercetin (QUR) and sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) alone in mitigating AKI.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of QUR-SeNPs' protective effects, focusing on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic pathways.
Main Methods:
- Experimental design involved forty male albino rats divided into five groups: Control, Glycerol (GLY)-induced AKI, GLY + QUR, GLY + Na2SeO3, and GLY + QUR-SeNPs.
- Animals received daily oral administration of respective treatments for 15 days, with a single intramuscular glycerol injection on day 14 to induce AKI.
- Assessment included evaluation of renal function biomarkers, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic markers, histopathology, gene expression, and immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- QUR-SeNPs significantly ameliorated renal functional and biochemical disturbances caused by glycerol-induced AKI.
- The nanoparticle treatment demonstrated superior antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects compared to individual quercetin or selenium treatments.
- Histopathological and molecular analyses confirmed that QUR-SeNPs protected kidney tissue from damage, normalized renal biomarkers, and restored antioxidant capacity.
Conclusions:
- Eco-synthesized QUR-SeNPs exhibit remarkable nephroprotective activity against glycerol-induced AKI.
- The enhanced efficacy of QUR-SeNPs is attributed to the synergistic interaction between quercetin and selenium, improving bioavailability and targeting.
- This study highlights the therapeutic potential of QUR-SeNPs as a novel strategy for preventing and treating acute kidney injury.
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