Rutin ameliorates oxidative stress and preserves hepatic and renal functions following exposure to cadmium and ethanol

Context: Rutin (RUT) is an antioxidant flavonoid with well-known metal chelating potentials. Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of RUT against cadmium (Cd)+ethanol (EtOH)-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in rats. Materials and methods: Wistar rats were treated with Cd (50mg/kg) alone or in combination with EtOH (5mg/kg) and RUT (25, 50 and 100mg/kg) for 15days. After treatment, the liver, kidney and serum were removed for biochemical assays by spectrophotometric methods. Results: Serum, hepatic and renal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were highest in the Cd + EtOH group and lowest in Cd + EtOH animals co-treated with the highest dose of RUT (2.980.34, 10.08 +/- 2.32, 4.99 +/- 1.21 vs. 1.69 +/- 0.33, 6.13 +/- 0.28, 3.66 +/- 1.12 mol MDA/mg protein, respectively). The serum level of Cd was increased in the Cd + EtOH treated animals compared to Cd + EtOH animals co-treated with 100 mg/kg RUT (2.54 +/- 0.08 vs. 1.28 +/- 0.04 ppm). Furthermore, RUT at the highest dose protected against Cd + EtOH-induced elevation of bilirubin and uric acid levels as well as activities of lactate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl transferase (62.86 +/- 2.74 vs. 122.52 +/- 6.35 mu mol/L; 1.77 +/- 0.35 vs. 3.23 +/- 0.55 mmol/L; 9.56 +/- 1.22 vs. 16.21 +/- 1.64 U/L; 288.92 +/- 40.12 vs. 159.8 +/- 18.01 U/L). The histo-pathological changes in the liver and kidney were also reduced in the Cd + EtOH animals co-treated with RUT in a dose-dependent manner. Discussion and conclusion: RUT protected against the combined effects of Cd+EtOH on hepatic and renal functions and improved the antioxidant defence system in the blood.