Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of date pollen in the gentamicin-induced renal toxicity

Aminoglycoside antibiotics including gentamicin are used for treatment of gram-negative bacteria-induced infections; however, gentamicin has severe side effects such as nephrotoxicity. Date palm pollen (DPP), as a herbal medicine is believed to have some antiinflammatory and antioxidative stress effects. In this study the protective effect of DPP extract were evaluated after its phytochemical analysis on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Wistar rats allocated into five groups including control, sham, gentamicin and two groups that received gentamicin along with DPP extract (200 or 400 mg/kg). Plasma urea and creatinine concentrations were measured and oxidative stress was assessed by evaluating MDA, FRAP, CAT and SOD. NF-κB, TNF-α and ICAM-1 gene expression levels along with the leukocyte infiltration were measured for evaluating inflammation. Histopathological damages were also measured by studying H&E-stained tissue sections.

The gentamicin receiving group had increased plasma urea and creatinine, increased MDA, and decreased FRAP, CAT and SOD activities in the kidney. The gentamicin administration also increased the TNF-α, NF-κB and ICAM-1 gene expression, infiltration of leukocytes and tissue damages in the kidney. DPP extract caused a partial or complete recovery of all these damages.

In conclusion, DPP extract protects the kidney against the side effects of gentamicin and improves its function and histopathological damages. The underlying mechanism is likely to decrease the NF-κB gene expression and consequently reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine genes expression, infiltration of leukocytes and oxidative stress. The DPP extract also increased the cellular antioxidant reserves.