Curcumin prevents adriamycin nephrotoxicity in rats

The present study investigated the effect of curcumin on adriamycin (ADR) n ephrosis in rats. The results indicate that ADR-induced kidney injury was r emarkably prevented by treatment with curcumin. Treatment with curcumin mar kedly protected against ADR-induced proteinuria, albuminuria, hypoalbuminae mia and hyperlipidaemia. Similarly, curcumin inhibited ADR-induced increase in urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (a marker of renal tubular injury), fibronectin and glycosaminoglycan and plasma cholesterol. Curcumin restored renal function in ADR rats, as judged by the increase in GFR. The data also demonstrated that curcumin protected against ADR-induce d renal injury by suppressing oxidative stress and increasing kidney glutat hione content and glutathione peroxidase activity. In like manner, curcumin abolished ADR-stimulated kidney microsomal and mitochondrial lipid peroxid ation. These data suggest that administration of curcumin is a promising ap proach in the treatment of nephrosis caused by ADR.