Amelioration of ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) induced renal oxidative stress and tumor promotion response by coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone) in Wistar rats

In this study, we report the modulatory effect of coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone) on Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) induced renal oxidative stress and tumor promotion response in rats. Fe-NTA (9 mg Fe/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) enhances renal lipid peroxidation, xanthine oxidase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation with reduction in antioxidant enzymes and renal glutathione content. It also enhances blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and thymidine [3H] incorporation into renal DNA. Prophylactic treatment of rats with coumarin (10 and 20 mg/kg body weight) resulted in significant recovery of antioxidant enzymes (P<0.001) and renal glutathione content (P<0.01). There was also significant decrease in γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, lipid peroxidation, xanthine oxidase, H2O2 generation, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, renal ODC activity and DNA synthesis (P<0.001). Thus, our results show that coumarin is a potent chemopreventive agent and suppresses Fe-NTA induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats.