Protective Effect of Safranal against Hexachlorobutadiene-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rat

Background: hexachlorobutadiene (hcbd) is a potentnephrotoxin in rodents, which can cause degeneration, necrosisand regeneration in renal tubular epithelial cells. it hasbeen shown that safranal, the active ingredient of saffron, hasa protective effect against ischemic injuries. the aim of thisstudy was to examine the protective effect of safranal againsthcbd-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.method: thirty wistar albino rats were randomly divided in fivegroups. the rats received a single dose of corn oil 1ml/kg(group1), hcbd 50mg/kg (group 2), or safranal at doses of 0.5,0.25 and 0.1 ml/kg one hour before hcbd (50mg/kg) injection(groups 3-5). all injections were carried out intraperitoneally.urine samples were collected one day before, and one day afterinjections. on day 3 the animals were sacrificed and both kidneyswere removed. the right kidney was fixed in formalin for histologicalexamination and the left kidney was homogenized formeasuring malondialdehyde (mda). blood samples were takenby cardiac puncture and used for the measurement of urea,creatinine, glucose and protein concentrations.results: blood urea concentration in hcbd treated groupwas significantly higher compared with group 3 (p<0.01) andgroups 1 and 4 (p<0.001). there was no significant differencein urea concentrations between group 5 and hcbd treatedgroup. urinary concentration of glucose was significantlyhigher in group 2, compared with groups 1, 3 and 4 (p<0.001)no significant differences were observed in urinary glucoseconcentrations between hcbd- and safranal (0.1ml/kg)-treated groups. concentration of protein was also significantlyhigher in group 5 than those of other tested groups (p<0.001).conclusion: safranal at doses of 0.25 and 0.5ml/kg has a protectiveeffect against hcbd-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.