Mitigation of renal toxicity induced by paraquat using ferulic acid: Role of inflammatory pathways

Paraquat (PQ), a widely used herbicide, is recognized for its extreme toxicity and has been linked to numerous health concerns, particularly renal injury. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of ferulic acid (FA) on oxidative stress and inflammation induced by PQ.

Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: group 1 included healthy animals that received distilled water, group 2 received PQ (25 mg/kg, orally), group 3 received FA (100 mg/kg, orally) and group 4 received PQ plus FA. The study duration was 14 days and twenty-four hours after the last treatment, rats were anesthetized. Blood samples were taken from the heart and kidney tissue was removed. Oxidative stress markers and biochemical parameters were measured. Also, gene expression of inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), was assessed in kidney tissue using RT-PCR.

PQ administration increased plasma levels of biochemical parameters, decreased antioxidant enzymes activity, increased protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and renal tissues (p˂0.05). FA administration after exposure to PQ improved all mentioned biochemical and oxidative stress markers. PQ administration was associated with increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which in turn, increased the migration of lymphocytes into the renal cells and FA treatment improved these effects.

This study demonstrates that daily consumption of FA can serve as an effective strategy to protect the kidneys from damage caused by chemical agents such as PQ.