Thymoquinone improves the kidney and liver changes induced by chronic cyclosporine A treatment and acute renal ischaemia/reperfusion in rats

Abstract

Abstract Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the effects of chronic cyclosporine A (CsA) treatment and acute renal ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) on the kidney and liver in thymoquinone (TQ)-treated rats. Methods In the CsA study, adult male rats were divided into control, CsA (25 mg/kg per day), TQ (10 mg/kg per day) and CsA + TQ groups, and rat treatment was for 28 days. In the I/R study, adult male rats were divided into sham-operated, I/R (renal ischaemia for 60 min followed by 60 min reperfusion) and TQ + I/R (TQ 10 mg/kg, 24 h and 1 h before ischaemia) groups. Key findings CsA treatment and renal I/R caused kidney and liver dysfunction as evaluated by histopathological changes and biochemical parameters. TQ treatment reduced elevated serum indices back to control levels and ameliorated CsA-induced kidney and liver histopathological changes. In renal and hepatic tissues, CsA and renal I/R induced significant increases in malondialdehyde levels with significant decreases in reduced glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase activities. Such changes in oxidative stress markers were counteracted by TQ treatment. Conclusions Kidney and liver injury due to CsA or renal I/R can be significantly reduced by TQ, which resets the oxidant/antioxidant balance of the affected organs through scavenging free radicals and antilipoperoxidative effects.