Renoprotective and antihypertensive effects of S-allylcysteine in 5/6 nephrectomized rats

Progressive renal damage and hypertension are associated with oxidative and nitrosative stress. On the other hand, S-allylcysteine (SAC), the most abundant organosulfur compound in aged garlic extract (AG), has antioxidant properties. The effects of SAC and AG on blood pressure, renal damage, and oxidative and nitrosative stress were studied in five-sixths nephrectomized rats treated with SAC (200 mg/kg ip) and AG (1.2 ml/kg ip) every other day for 30 days. Proteinuria and serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations were measured on days 0, 5, 10, 15, and 30, and systolic blood pressure was recorded on days 0, 15, and 30. The degree of glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial damage, the immunostaining for inducible nitric oxide synthase, 3-nitrotyrosine, poly(ADP-ribose), and the subunits of NADPH oxidase p22^phox and gp91^phox, and the activity of SOD were determined on day 30. SAC and AG reduced hypertension, renal damage, and the abundance of inducible nitric oxide synthase, 3-nitrotyrosine, poly(ADP-ribose), p22^phox, and gp91^phox and increased SOD activity. Our data suggest that the antihypertensive and renoprotective effects of SAC and AG are associated with their antioxidant properties and that they may be used to ameliorate hypertension and delay the progression of renal damage.