The hydroalcoholic extract of Nasturtium officinale protectively inhibits apoptotic and inflammatory pathways in hepato- and nephrotoxicity: An in vivo study.

Objective: Nasturtium officinale (N. officinale (NO)) has been widely used in traditional medicine. This study investigates the protective effects of NO against hepatic and renal damage induced by CCl₄ and gentamicin, respectively, in rats.

Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into two arms: A (CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity) and B (gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity). Seventeen groups were formed by dividing arms A and B, with nine groups in arm A and eight groups in arm B (n=5). Rats were daily treated with various doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg BW) of N. officinale extract (NOE) (Total extract; Oral gavage) for 14 and 28 days in arm A and B, respectively. Biochemical and histopathological evaluations and gene expression analyses were conducted on blood, liver, and kidney tissues.

Results: NOE treatment significantly modulated B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X (Bax) and B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) expression in kidney tissue, reducing Bax (p<0.01) and increasing Bcl-2 (p<0.05). In liver tissue, NOE inhibited tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (p<0.01) and Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) (p<0.001), while reducing AST and ALT activity (p<0.001). Additionally, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels significantly decreased (p<0.05) in nephrotoxic rats.

Conclusion: Our findings highlight the capability of NOE as a promising therapeutic against liver and kidney damage induced by CCl₄ and gentamicin, respectively, in animal models.