Abstract:

Background and Aims: Nephrotoxicity is an adverse effect, which may occur with the use of tenofovir/lamivudine/efavirenz (TLE) in the treatment of human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection. Curcumin (CUM), an isolate of Curcuma longa L. is used in folk medicine for the treatment of ailments. This study attempts to establish whether CUM supplementation can protect against a rat model of TLE-induced nephrotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats (n=40) were randomly grouped and supplemented orally with CUM (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) prior to the oral administration of TLE (300/300/600 mg/kg/day) for 30 days. After the treatment, the rats were fasted overnight, weighed and anesthetized. Blood samples were collected, and sera were extracted for biochemical analyses. Kidney samples were excised, weighed and processed for oxidative stress markers and histology. Results: Body weight was decreased (p<0.01) whereas kidney weight was increased (p<0.01) in TLE administered rats when compared to the control. Significant (p<0.001) increments in serum uric acid, creatinine, urea and kidney malondialdehyde levels were observed in TLE-administered rats. Significant (p<0.001) decreases in serum total protein, albumin, electrolytes, kidney superoxide dismutase, glutathione, catalase and glutathione peroxidase levels were observed in TLE administered rats when compared to the control. TLE produced tubular necrosis and hypercellular glomerulus with mesangial proliferation in the kidneys of treated rats. However, CUM (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) supplementation abrogates TLE-induced nephrotoxicity in a dose-related manner at p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively, when compared to TLE group. Conclusion: CUM seems effective against TLE-induced nephrotoxicity.

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