Protective effect of curcumin on the kidney of diclofenac sodium-challenged mice: apoptotic, redox potential and histopathological outcomes

Background The renal burden imposed by diclofenac sodium (DS) remedy is a significant concern and limits the extension in its clinical application. Curcumin (Cur) can be used as a promising natural phytochemical in rescuing chemotherapy-associated renal dysfunction owing to its redox stabilizing and cytoprotective nature. Thus, the current experiment aims to highlight the possible ameliorative impact of Cur on DS-induced renal damage and its mediating mechanisms in adult male mice. Methods A total number of eighteen healthy adult mice of the male sex were classified into 3 groups for 21 days. The first group served as a control, whereas the second one received DS at 10 mg/kg body weight by intraperitoneal route of administration daily during the last 14 days of the experiment. The third group was supplemented with Cur at 100 mg/kg body weight during the entire duration of the intervention in conjunction with the DS burden. At the end of the experimental protocol, kidney functions, redox parameters, histopathological investigation and TUNEL assay were performed. Results Cur succeeded in restoring the typical histomorphometric features and reducing the apoptosis in the kidney. The redox disturbances in the kidney of DS-challenged mice rebalanced were manifested by normalizing the level of renal reduced glutathione and immunostaining of glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase 2. No marked alteration in plasma urea level in the DS group could be noticed compared to the control. Nevertheless, an obvious reduction in plasma urea level was observed in the DS+Cur group relative to the control and DS groups. The comparison between all experimental groups revealed the absence of significant difference in plasma creatinine and renal lipid peroxide levels. Conclusions Cur might exert its renoprotective action through its cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic and antioxidant characteristics. The findings of this study shed light on using natural phytochemicals to alleviate the adverse influences of chemotherapies.