Ginger Essential Oil Ameliorates Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Mice

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of ginger essential oil (GEO) in an experimental model of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.Methods: Male mice were divided into treatment six groups (n = 7), namely: Groups I (saline), II and III (cisplatin, 10 mg/kg, i.p.) euthanized in 3th and 6th days, respectively, and IV, V and IV (GEO, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day, respectively, by gavage 3, 4, 5 and 6 days after cisplatin injection). Creatinine levels and protein/creatinine ratio were determined in plasma and urine, respectively. Bone morphogenic protein (BMP-7) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) levels of kidney tissues were determined while mRNA expression levels were obtained using real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results: GEO treatment reduced significantly creatinine levels to 0.53 +/- 0.02; 0.48 +/- 0.008 and 0.46 +/- 0.02 at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively, compared with control (0.70 +/- 0.01) [p< 0.05] but increased protein : creatinine ratio to 0.21 +/- 0.01, 0.22 +/- 0.01, 0.24 +/- 0.02 compared with control (0.06 +/- 0.008) [p< 0.05]. Pro-inflammatory TNF-alpha mRNA expression was decreased to 1.46 +/- 0.21, 1.39 +/- 0.19 and 1.36 +/- 0.09, at GEO doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively, while anti-fibrotic BMP-7 mRNA expression increased to 2.05 +/- 0.26 and 2.44 +/- 0.42 at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively, compared with control (0.59 +/- 0.39, p < 0.05).Conclusion: GEO treatment attenuates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, in part, by modulating some inflammatory cytokines.