Nephroprotective effect of catechin on gentamicin-induced experimental nephrotoxicity

Gentamicin is an effective aminoglycoside antibiotic employed against severe Gram-negative bacterial infections, but induction of nephrotoxicity limits its frequent clinical use. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of catechin hydrate on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Rats were administered nephrotoxic dose of gentamicin (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.) once daily for 14 days. Gentamicin-administered rats were treated with catechin hydrate (50 mg/kg/day, per os), the treatment was started 3 days before the administration of gentamicin while it was continued for 14 days from the day of gentamicin administration. Two weeks administration of gentamicin significantly increased the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. Renal histopathological examination of gentamicin-administered rats revealed degenerative changes in glomeruli and tubules after 2 weeks. These renal structural and functional abnormalities in gentamicin-administered rats were accompanied with renal oxidative stress as assessed in terms of marked decrease in renal-reduced glutathione (GSH). However, catechin hydrate treatment showed considerably nephroprotective action against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats by preventing aforementioned renal structural and functional abnormalities and oxidative stress. Catechin hydrate has a potential to prevent gentamicin-induced experimental nephrotoxicity. The renoprotective effect of catechin hydrate against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity might be mediated through its antioxidant and possible direct nephroprotective actions.