Protective effect of nigella sativa oil on carboplatin induced nephrotoxicity in rats

OBJECTIVE: Carboplatin is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent. Kidneys are an important organ affected by the adverse effects of chemotherapeutic agents. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) against kidney damage due to carboplatin exposure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All animals (n=24 female wistar-albino rats) were divided into four groups; 4 ml/kg saline was intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered on day one and two in the first group. 4 ml/kg NSO on day one and 4 ml/kg saline on day two was i.p. administered in the second group.4 ml/kg saline on day one and 80 mg/kg carboplatin on day two was i.p. administered in the third group.4 ml/kg NSO on day oneand 80 mg/kg carboplatin on day two was i.p. administered inthe fourth group. Rats were sacrificed at the end of day two and renal tissues were fixed in neutral formalin. Histopathologicchanges and apoptotic index (AI) were evaluated. RESULTS: While an increase was observed in the apoptotic index of carboplatin+saline group compared to the control group, no significant differences were found in the carboplatin+saline and carboplatin+NSO group. In the histopathological evaluation, degeneration in the proximal and distal tubular epithelium and glomerular capillary glomus bodies, congestion in the vascular formations between the tubules, increase in collagen fiber density in the tunica adventitia of intraglomerular, preglomerular, intertubular and vascular formations, and sporadic basal disintegration due to Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) reaction were observed in the carboplatin+saline group. In the carboplatin+NSO group, degenerative changes in some areas of tubular structures continued while it was observed that glomerular structures were more regular. It was observed that sclerotic change was fewer in the carboplatin+NSO group than in the carboplatin+saline group. It drew attention that basal membranes were more regular in the carboplatin-nigella sativa oil group as a result of PAS reaction. CONCLUSIONS: NSO, is used as a spice, may have a protective effect on carboplatin induced nephrotoxicity.