Evaluation of the nephroprotective effect of the essential oil of Haloxylon articulatum in Wistar rats intoxicated by Nickel

Abstract

Nickel compounds are environmental hazards, capable of inducing severe health problems and carcinogenic effects, which can be mitigated by numer-ous antioxidants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the pro-tective effect of Haloxylon articulatum essential oil (HAOA) by intraperitone-al injection of 0.1 ml/kg/day for a period of 21 days, against nickel-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. The extraction of the essential oil of H. articula-tum allowed us to obtain an EOHA with a yield of 0.11% and the characteri-zation of the plant by GC-MS indicatedthat the major components of this extract are Thymol (14, 19%), Alphaterpinene (11.02), ß -E-Ocimene (9.64), 1,8-Cineole (8.69), Oleuropine (5.17%), Linalol (5.12%), Delta -3- Carene (4.12). The results obtained showed a decrease in corprel weight and kidney weight in nickel poisoned rats. Biochemical biomarkers of renal function fol-lowing nickel exposure were demonstrated by significant increases in serum urea, uric acid and creatinine concentrations. The toxic effect of nickel was also indicated by a significant decrease in the enzymatic activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and hepatic glutathione levels (GSH). All these variations in biochemical parameters were confirmed by histopatho-logical observations of the kidneys; glomerular necrosis with degeneration of the Bowman's capsule in comparison with the control rats. In addition, EOHA administration resulted in an increase in body and kidney weight of the rats compared to the poisoned rats. The results of the renal biochemical assays show a correction of the values following the administration of EOHA com-pared to those of the poisoned animals. Analysis of the antioxidant status in the kidney indicates that EOHA has restored the activity of the oxidative sta-tus. In fact, the histological study carried out showed a clear improvement in renal tissue architecture in poisoned rats treated with EOHA, which justifies the great importance of H. articulatum in traditional medicine and its thera-peutic virtues.