AMELIORATIVE ROLE OF VITAMIN C AGAINST ZINC-OXIDE NANOPARTICLE-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND KIDNEY DYSFUNCTION IN MALE WISTAR RATS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20832531Keywords:
Nephrotoxicity, oxidative stress, ZnO-nanoparticles, vitamin CAbstract
The protective effect of vitamin C (Vit C) against ZnO NP-induced kidney toxicity in male Wistar rats was investigated in this study. Thirty rats Obtained from the Animal house of the Department of Anatomy, University of Benin, were divided into five groups: Group A: Control (distilled water), Group B: ZnO only (70 mg/kg), and three co-treatment groups receiving ZnO (70 mg/kg) plus Vit C at 100, 200, and 500 mg/kg for 7 days (Group C, D and E, respectively). Exposure to ZnO NPs led to significantly (p<0.05) increased total protein, malondialdehyde (MDA), and sodium levels, modified urea and bicarbonate concentrations, altered superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, and led to severe tubular necrosis in group B. Co-administration with vitamin C at 100 and 200 mg/kg resulted in the restoration of these biochemical parameters, reduced oxidative stress, and ameliorated histopathological lesions in a dose-dependent manner. However, there was 100% mortality in the group that received 500 mg/kg vitamin C, suggesting a paradoxical pro-oxidant effect at supraphysiological doses. These findings proved that vitamin C at optimal doses (100–200 mg/kg) effectively alleviates ZnO NP-induced nephrotoxicity through antioxidant mechanisms, but high doses may likely exacerbate toxicity. Establishing therapeutic windows is essential for antioxidant augmentation in nanotoxicology.
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