Abstract
Background and Objective: Acetaminophen (APAP), is a commonly prescribed analgesic and antipyretic drug in clinical practice. It has been reported that APAP overdose potentially induces hepatorenal damage in experimental animals and humans and in severe cases may lead to death. Acute renal failure has been reported in similar to 1-2% of patients because of APAP overdose. This study was intended to explore the possible effects of Acacia senegal, commonly known as Arabic gum (AG) on paracetamol (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, APAP)-induced nephrotoxicity in an albino rat model. Materials and Methods: Thirty Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups, six rats each. The normal control group was administered ordinary saline orally, the APAP group received APAP intra-peritoneally for 14 days (200 mg kg(-1)), the N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group received APAP and NAC as a standard drug orally (140 mg kg(-1)) and the (APAP) and (AG) groups were administered APAP intraperitoneally+AG orally, in two different doses (7.5 and 15 g kg(-1)) for 14 days. Results: Pretreatment with AG diminished urea and creatinine levels in the blood. It additionally decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) and compensated for the deficits in the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and amended the APAP-induced histopathological kidney alterations. Moreover, AG increased the clearance of creatinine from the body and diminished the levels of inflammatory markers CRP, COX-2, IL-6 and IL-17 in kidney tissues induced by APAP administrations. Conclusion: Arabic gum showed a promising role in the protection against paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.