Soliman Mohamed Mohamed, Aldhahrani Adel, Alghamdi Yousef Saeed, Said Alshaimaa Mohammed
Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, Turabah University College, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
J Food Biochem. 2022 Mar;46(3):e13630. doi: 10.1111/jfbc.13630. Epub 2021 Mar 26.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is an herbal plant with pleiotropic medicinal properties. In this study, we examined the possible protective effect of an ethanolic extract of thyme leaves against the renal oxidative stress induced by sodium nitrite (NaNO ). Male Swiss mice received either saline or thyme extract for 15 days (0.5 g/kg body weight, orally). NaNO (60 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally at Day 14. The protective group received the thyme extract for 15 days and NaNO on Day 14. Blood and kidney samples were taken from all groups to measure serum urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, serum, tissue antioxidant activity, and the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to examine the expression of kidney injury marker-1 (Kim-1), TNF-α, nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), and hemoxygenase-1 (HO-1), all of which are associated with kidney redox and oxidative stress. Pretreatment with thyme extract reduced the effects of NaNO on urea, BUN, and creatinine, and reversed its effect on tissue and serum antioxidants. NaNO -induced nephritis as demonstrated by the upregulation in mRNA expression of Kim-1 and TNF-α, which was, however, recovered and protected by pretreatment with thyme extract. Expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 was upregulated by treatment with thyme extract and downregulated by NaNO intoxication. NaNO -induced congestion in glomeruli and dilatation of the renal tubules, conditions that were restored in the group pretreated with thyme extract. NaNO upregulated Bax immunoreactivity and caused apoptosis in renal structures. Thus, thyme extract is effective in managing the renal toxicity associated with oxidative stress and renal redox. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The results from this study have shown that use of thyme extract may promote better health due to its high antioxidant activity. For instance, it could be ingested to alleviate the symptoms of renal inflammation and oxidative stress associated with nitrite toxicity. Thyme extract regulated renal redox, oxidative stress, antioxidant levels, and inflammation-associated genes at the molecular, biochemical, and cellular immunohistochemical levels.
百里香（Thymus vulgaris）是一种具有多种药用特性的草本植物。在本研究中，我们检测了百里香叶乙醇提取物对亚硝酸钠（NaNO₂）诱导的肾脏氧化应激的可能保护作用。雄性瑞士小鼠连续15天接受生理盐水或百里香提取物（0.5 g/kg体重，口服）。在第14天腹腔注射NaNO₂（60 mg/kg）。保护组连续15天接受百里香提取物，并在第14天接受NaNO₂。采集所有组的血液和肾脏样本，以测量血清尿素、血尿素氮（BUN）、肌酐、血清、组织抗氧化活性以及炎性细胞因子IL-1β和IL-6。采用定量实时PCR（qRT-PCR）检测肾损伤标志物-1（Kim-1）、TNF-α、核因子红细胞2相关因子2（Nrf2）和血红素加氧酶-1（HO-1）的表达，所有这些均与肾脏氧化还原和氧化应激相关。百里香提取物预处理可减轻NaNO₂对尿素、BUN和肌酐的影响，并逆转其对组织和血清抗氧化剂的作用。NaNO₂诱导的肾炎表现为Kim-1和TNF-α mRNA表达上调，但百里香提取物预处理可使其恢复并得到保护。百里香提取物处理可上调Nrf2和HO-1的表达，而NaNO₂中毒则使其下调。NaNO₂诱导肾小球充血和肾小管扩张，而在百里香提取物预处理组中这些情况得以恢复。NaNO₂上调Bax免疫反应性并导致肾脏结构凋亡。因此，百里香提取物可有效应对与氧化应激和肾脏氧化还原相关的肾脏毒性。实际应用：本研究结果表明，由于百里香提取物具有高抗氧化活性，使用它可能促进健康。例如，可摄入百里香提取物以缓解与亚硝酸盐毒性相关的肾脏炎症和氧化应激症状。百里香提取物在分子、生化和细胞免疫组化水平上调节肾脏氧化还原、氧化应激、抗氧化水平以及与炎症相关的基因。
