Aucubin administered by either oral or parenteral route protects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in mice

Aucubin is pharmacologically active natural compound which possesses numerous beneficial properties. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of aucubin against cisplatin (CP)-induced acute kidney injury in mice and the mechanism of its action. Aucubin was administrated to mice orally or intraperitoneally (ip) (1.5 and 5 mg/kg) for two consecutive days, two days after ip injection of cisplatin (CP), 11 mg/kg. Treatment with aucubin by both routes of administration ameliorated histopathological changes and reduced elevated serum markers of kidney injury. CP administration increased renal expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), as well as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which was dose-dependently ameliorated by aucubin. Moreover, aucubin reduced increased renal expression of cleaved caspase-3 and -9 and decreased poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Mechanistically, aucubin suppressed the activation of several signaling pathways involved in inflammation and apoptosis, including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a). Parenteral application was marginally but statistically more effective in reducing CP-induced kidney injury than oral administration. The findings of this study suggest that aucubin acts as a protective agent against CP-induced nephrotoxicity, which should be further investigated.