AZADIRACHTA INDICA OIL AS PROTECTOR OF CHRONIC OCHRATOXIN-INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY

Ochratoxin A (OTA) mycotoxin affects protein synthesis, metabolic oxidative pathways and ROS mediation. In the present study, we investigate the antioxidative-therapeutic potential of Azadirachta Indica Oil (A. indica) against chronic (28 days) OTA-induced nephrotoxicity. Balb/c male mice were exposed to i.e., (1) controls; (2) A. indica treated (120 mg/kg b. wt. i.p., given every two days); (3) c) OTA treated (Isolate D2306, 1.25 mg/kg b.wt., i.p., given every two days); d) A. indica (120 mg/kg b.wt., i.p.) administered 2h prior to OTA-administration. Till the end of the 28 experimental days of chronic OTA-nephrotoxicity, the mortality rate (±0) was not observed in mice. Kidney tissue was subjected for the determination of biochemical indexes (the MDA ratio, and antioxidant capability of SOD, and GSH) and EPR- ROS productions. OTA-exposure resulted in twofold significant increases in SOD (p<0.004), GSH (p<0.05) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p<0.00), compared to controls. Further, a nephro-cells experiment was performed to investigate the oxidative stress-protective action of A. indica. Our results showed that A. indica oil and A. indica +OTA combination inhibited OTA-induced nephrotoxicity via a significant reduction of lipid peroxidation (p<0.003), ROS production (p<0.005), and endogenous antioxidant activation. Thus, it can be concluded that A. indica treatment neutralized chronic OTA-induced nephrotoxicity, not only by reducing lipid peroxidation but also by improving antioxidant status. Through the present experiments, it was demonstrated that A. indica has protective potential in nephron-inflammations.