Protective and therapeutic effects of nobiletin against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Possible protective and therapeutic effects of nobiletin on kidney in a cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity rat model were investigated. Forty male albino rats were divided into four groups: control, cisplatin (CIS), cisplatin+nobiletin (CIS+NOB), and nobiletin+cisplatin (NOB+CIS). At the end of the study, the rats were subjected to biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical analyzes. Compared to the control group, tGSH (p < 0.05) levels, and G6PD (p < 0.05) and GPx (p < 0.001) activities, were increased in the CIS group; while significant (p < 0.05) decreases occurred in the MDA and TOC levels. Histopathologically, the kidneys of the groups administered nobiletin (CIS+NOB, NOB+CIS) were significantly different from the CIS group, being closer to control group in terms of degeneration and hyaline cylinder formation in the tubules (p < 0.05). While dilatation in the tubules, protein-rich fluid and hyaline cylinder formation in the lumen were most common in the CIS group, a significant decrease (p < 0.05) of these parameters was seen in the nobiletin groups (CIS+NOB, NOB+CIS). This study suggests that nobiletin can be effective in preventing and ameliorating toxic effects of cisplatin on the kidney.