Antioxidant role of Holothuria atra extract against nephrotoxicity induced by 7, 12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene in male albino rats

The kidney is the target of numerous xenobiotic toxicants, including environmental chemicals. Nephrotoxicity is one of the most common kidney problems and occurs when the body is exposed to a drug or toxin. The aim of this study is to assess the antioxidant activity of Holothuria atra extract (HaE) against nephrotoxicity induced by 7, 12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA). Fifty male Wistar albino rats were assigned into two main groups, the pre-treated group (25 rats) and post-treated group (25 rats). Each group divided into 5 subgroups; healthy control (received 1ml distilled water daily prior to a single dose of corn oil), DMBA groups (received 1ml distilled water for 7 and 14 days prior to or after a single dosage of 15 mg/ kg body weight DMBA) and HaE treated groups (received 1ml HaE at a dosage of 200 mg/kg body weight, orally for 7 and 14 days prior to or after a single dosage of 15 mg/ kg body weight DMBA). The nephrotoxic effect of DMBA was assessed by the significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and the significant decrease in glutathione reduced (GSH) concentration, Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Catalase (CAT) activities, as compared with healthy controls. However, an antioxidant effect of HaE was noticed by a significant decrease in MDA concentration and the significant increase in GSH concentration, GST, SOD, and CAT activities in kidney as compared to DMBA groups. In conclusion, HaE has potential protective and ameliorative effects against the nephrotoxicity induced by DMBA.