Prevention of doxorubicin-induce renal function abnormalities by turmeric in Wistar rats

Doxorubicin is an anthracycline antibiotic with anti-neoplastic potentials mediated mainly by affecting the DNA synthetic machinery of the cell. It is found to be effective against a wide range of cancers including the ovary, uterus, lung, breast etc. Doxorubicin exerts its nephrotoxicity on the kidney by inducing inflammatory changes leading to increased capillary porousness and glomerular shrinking. This study investigated the effect of turmeric on the renal function biomarkers in doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats. 54 adult Wistar rats were divided into 9 groups of six animals each. Group 1 animals served as control (normal saline), group 2 animals served as negative control, and received doxorubicin, group 3 animals were given doxorubicin and turmeric, group 4 animals received doxorubicin and vitamin C, group 5 animals received doxorubicin and vitamin E, group 6 animals received doxorubicin, vitamins C and turmeric, group 7 animals received doxorubicin, vitamin E and turmeric, while group 8 animals received doxorubicin, vitamin C and vitamin E and finally, group 9 animals receive doxorubicin, vitamin C, vitamin E and turmeric. The experiment lasted for 28 days and blood samples were collected from each animal from the various groups for renal function assay. Doxorubicin caused significant increase in the serum levels of urea, creatinine, sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), and decrease serum levels of chloride (Cl-), magnesium (Mg2+) and potassium (K+). These abnormal electrolyte imbalances were prevented by administration of turmeric alone or in combination with vitamins C and or E along with doxorubicin concomitantly.