Ultrastructural and biochemical studies on the potential effects of Moringa oleifera seed oil against nephrotoxicity induced by sofosbuvir in albino rats

Abstract

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes both acute and chronic hepatitis which spread worldwide and accompanied with severe complications in long period of injury. Sofosbuvir (sofo) is a new drug for HCV treatment. Although it has an effective potential in reducing HCV load, its use was accompanied by some side effects. Moringa oleifera (MO) seed oil is natural food-supplemented oil has many pharmaceutical properties which give the plant the ability to reduce or improve the side effects of many insults. This work aimed to determine the possible protective effects of MO seed oil against sofo-nephrotoxicity. Four experimental groups were used; the control group, MO oil group was orally given MO seed oil (2ml/kg/day), sofo group was orally given sofo (36mg/kg/day) and sofo and MO oil group was orally administered sofo, then after 2 hours they were given MO oil. The rats received all doses daily for eight weeks. Twenty four hours following the last injection, rats were anesthetized, sacrificed, the two kidneys were quickly removed and the blood samples were withdrawn for complete blood count (CBC) and determination of the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of glutathione (GSH). Sofosbuvir induced marked ultrastructural changes and significant decrease in SOD activity and GSH level. In addition, CBC of the same groups showed significant decrease in the mean corpuscular value and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin and significant increase in red blood cells count. On the other hand, co-treatment with MO seed oil efficiency improved sofo-induced nephrotoxicity which was evident from the disappearance of most of the ultrastructural changes and improving SOD activity and GSH level. Conclusions: Moringa oleifera seed oil may improve the ultrastructural and biochemical changes associated with nephrotoxicity induced by sofo due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents.