Abstract
Actinomycetes are a group of the Gram-positive bacteria famous for their antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-parasitic, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of two bacterial extracts derived from two soil actinomycete strains (S19 and G30) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl
4
)–induced nephrotoxicity in experimental rats. Sixty-four male rats were assigned to four groups of 16 rats in each group. The 1st group was kept as a normal (control) group and given corn oil combined with the used production medium, while the 2nd group received only CCl
4
(CCl
4
group). On the other hand, the 3rd group (CCl
4
+S19) was administered CCl
4
and the extract of the actinomycete strain S19 and the 4th group (CCl
4
+G30) received CCl
4
and the extract of the actinomycete strain G30, both treatments for 8 weeks. The results revealed that the two actinomycete extracts S19 and G30 could significantly (
p
< 0.01) lower the elevated levels of serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid caused by the CCl
4
administration. Additionally, the two actinomycete extracts improved the decreased serum total protein. Interestingly, treatment of the CCl
4
-intoxicated rats with S19 and G30 extracts remarkably reversed the lowered renal glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), peroxidase (Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and the elevated lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels. The histopathological examination of the treated kidney revealed that the two actinomycete extracts improved rats against CCl
4
-induced kidney lesions. The present results suggested that the protective effect of the two actinomycete extracts may rely on its effect on reducing the oxidative stress and improving the antioxidant defense system.