Sakuranetin counteracts polyethylene microplastics induced nephrotoxic effects via modulation of Nrf2/Keap1 pathway

Polyethylene microplastics (PEMPs) are widely distributed in environment and exerts deleterious effects on animal as well as human health. Sakuranetin (SKN) is a natural flavonoid that manifests profound therapeutic potential. Albino rats (n = 24) were partitioned into 4 groups i.e., Control, PEMPs 1.5 mg/kg, PEMPs 1.5 mg/kg + SKN 10 mg/kg and SKN 10 mg/kg administered group. After 30 days of treatment, our results revealed that PEMPs exposure reduced nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and antioxidant genes while enhancing the expression of kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(Keap-1). Besides, PEMPs intoxication reduced the level of renal biomarkers i.e., creatinine clearance and increased the level of creatinine, urea, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1). Additionally, it lessened the activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSR), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) whereas the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were increased. Conversely, it increased the levels of nuclear factorkappa B (NF-kB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-1beta (IL-1b) and IL-6 as well as escalated the activity of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Furthermore, the expression of bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3 were elevated, while the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) was lowered. However, SKN treatment significantly (P < 0.05) restored aforementioned renal impairments. Therefore, it is proposed that SKN may be applied as a nephroprotective agent against the PEMPs-prompted renal toxicity.