Protective effects of pretreatment or concomitant treatment with Hypericum extract on renal function and renal toxicity in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity

Introduction: Cisplatin is a strong anticancer medicine, but its use is limited due to the potential nephrotoxicity induction. Objectives: The present study seeks to determine the impact of Hypericum hydroalcoholic extract on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two male rats were assigned to groups 1 to 4. Group 1, control (Cont); treated by saline (IP). Group 2, Cis; cisplatin [intraperitoneal (IP), 7.5 mg/kg]. Group 3, CisH; cisplatin + Hypericum (70 mg/kg, IP, for one week). Group 4, HCis; first treated with Hypericum for a week, followed by cisplatin. Renal tissue and blood samples were obtained a week after cisplatin injection for tissue assay and biochemical analysis. Kidney tissue damage score (KTDS), plasma creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were measured. Results: Kidney weight showed significant differences between the treated groups and the Cont group (P < 0.001). Serum BUN, Cr, SGOT, and SGPT increased significantly in Cont (P < 0.01). BUN decreased in CisH and HCis groups compared to Cis group, although there was no significant difference. Serum Cr, SGOT, and SGPT decreased significantly in CisH and HCis groups compared to the Cis group (P < 0.05). MDA and KTDS increased in the Cis group and decreased significantly in the CisH and HCis groups compared to the Cis group (P < 0.05). Serum SOD and CAT decreased significantly in Cis compared to Cont (P < 0.05) and increased in CisH and HCis groups compared to Cis. There was no significant difference between the CisH and HCis groups in any of the measured parameters. Conclusion: This study reveals that pretreatment with Hypericum extract or its concomitant administration with cisplatin can moderate the side-effects of cisplatin, improve renal function and decrease lipid peroxidation, renal toxicity and the KTDS.