Background: Paracetamol (PA) is widely spread analgesic and antipyretic drugs. Its overdose can cause severe damage to kidneys representing one of the most common reasons for emergency admissions.
Aim: The study aimed to demonstrate the effects of pomegranate peel extract (PPE), on PA-induced nephrotoxicity, and the possibility of co-administration therapy of PPE and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) to ameliorate PA toxicity.
Material and Methods: Fifty adult male albino rats were equally divided into 5 groups as follow: Group I (Control animals) received only balanced diet and tap water; Group II received PA a‌t a single dose 400 mg/kg body weight (BW) /day orally; Group III received orally PA at same previous dose and NAC at a single dose 150 mg/kg BW /day orally; Group IV received PA at same previous dose and PPE at a single dose 430 mg/kg BW /day orally and Group V received PA, NAC and PPE at same previous doses. After 28 days of treatment, venous blood samples were collected for assaying blood creatinine (BC) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Then, rats were anaesthetized and sacrificed. Kidneys were harvested for histological and immunohistochemical examinations.
Results: PA-induced a highly significant increase in BUN and BC (p < 0.001). Also all these alterations were confirmed histologically in the renal cortex and medulla where PA induced separated and congested glomerular capillaries with wide Bowman's space. The interstitium infiltrated by the inflammatory cells and vascular congestion were very prominent in-between tubules. Moreover, PA led to apoptotic death in renal tubular cells, manifested by an increase in the expression of caspase-3. Meanwhile, NAC and PPE showed a protective action against PA-toxic effects especially when used in combination.
Conclusion: It is suggested that NAC and PPE could have an ameliorating effect against PA-nephrotoxicity