Protective effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Zingiber officinale extract against CCl4-induced acute kidney injury in rats

Introduction: The toxicity induced by toxic substances and medications is one of the principal reasons for acute kidney injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Zingiber officinale extracts on the kidney of the rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Methods: In this study, thirty-six Wistar rats randomly divided into six groups: I) control, II) cinnamon 25mg/kg + ginger 125mg/kg, III) CCl4, IV) CCl4+ cinnamon 50mg/kg, V) CCl4+ ginger 250mg/kg, VI) CCl4+ cinnamon 25mg/kg and ginger 125mg/kg. Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Zingiber officinale extracts were injected for 14 days. On the 14th day, the rats in the CCl4 and the pretreatment groups were administered with 1mg/kg of CCl4 and olive oil mixture (1:1 v/v). Forty-eight hours after the injection of CCl4, blood samples were taken to conduct subsequent biochemical tests. Also, the kidney removed and histological alterations as well as oxidative markers were investigated. Results: The administration of CCl4 increased the levels of urea, uric acid, creatinine and malondialdehyde; while decreased the levels of serum albumin, total protein, total antioxidant capacity and renal tissue antioxidant enzymes. Pretreatment with Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Zingiber officinale extracts, especially with a combination of them, led to considerable improvement in these values compared to the CCl4 group. Conclusion: The results suggest that hydroalcoholic extracts of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Zingiber officinale, alone or simultaneously, have protective effects against free radicals produced during CCl4 metabolism.