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Quercetin flavonoid and vitamin C recuperate kidney functions in potassium bromate-induced renal dysfunction in Wistar rats

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Abstract

Studies into the functions and mechanisms of action of quercetin may be able to help dispel the negative effects of toxicants on renal toxicity due to its anti-inflammatory potential, as well as provide a simple, low-cost alternative for treating renal toxicity in developing nations. Therefore, the present study evaluated the ameliorative and renal protective activities of quercetin dihydrate in potassium bromate-induced, renal-toxic Wistar rats. Forty-five (45) mature female Wistar rats (180–200 g) were randomly grouped into nine (9) (n = 5). Group A served as general control. Nephrotoxicity was induced in groups B to I with the administration of potassium bromate. While group B served as a negative control, groups C–E received graded doses of quercetin (40, 60, and 80 mg/kg, respectively). Group F received 2.5 mg/kg/day of vitamin C, while groups G–I received vitamin C (2.5 mg/kg/day) and co-administration of a graded dose of quercetin (40, 60, and 80 mg/kg, respectively). Daily urine levels and final blood samples by retro-orbital techniques were collected for GFR, urea, and creatinine level assessment. The collected data were subjected to ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test, and the results were presented as mean SEM with a p < 0.05 level considered significant. Body and organ weight and GFR were significantly reduced (p < 0.05), while serum and urine creatinine and urea were decreased in renotoxic animals. However, treatment with QCT reversed the renotoxic effects. We, therefore, concluded that quercetin administered alone or with vitamin C conferred renal protection by reversing KBrO3-induced renal toxicity in rats. Further studies to corroborate the present findings are recommended.

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Data availability

Data obtained from this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the technical staff of the Department of Physiology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.

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AON and JCI conceived, designed, and supervised the research. VE contributed reagents, analyzed data, and wrote and edited the manuscript. LOO conducted experiments, helped with the literature search, contributed reagents, and collected samples. All authors reviewed the manuscript. The authors declare that all data were generated in-house and that no paper mill was used.

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Correspondence to Victor Emojevwe.

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The Delta State University Animal Care and Use Research Ethics Committee approved the procedures, which were carried out with care in accordance with the NIH Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Ogagayere, L.O., Naiho, A.O., Emojevwe, V. et al. Quercetin flavonoid and vitamin C recuperate kidney functions in potassium bromate-induced renal dysfunction in Wistar rats. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 396, 3789–3796 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-023-02571-w

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