Garlic powder ameliorates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress

cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cisplatin) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent successfully used in the treatment of a wide range of tumors. Nevertheless, nephrotoxicity has restricted its clinical use. The use of more than a few antioxidants has shown that reactive oxygen species are involved in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. In the present work the effect of garlic powder, a recognized antioxidant, on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative and nitrosative stress was studied. Rats were fed with a 2% garlic powder diet for 4 weeks. A single injection of cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg) induced tubular damage and an increase in the following markers of renal injury 3 days later: blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase. The cisplatin injection also increased 3-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal immunostaining in renal cortex and medulla. It was found that the garlic powder feeding was able to prevent by 40-59% the alterations in the markers of renal injury studied, by 33% the histological damage, and by 38-75% the increase in markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress. It is concluded that the ability of garlic powder to ameliorate cisplatin-induced renal injury is associated with its antioxidant properties. Our data support the use of garlic powder as a renoprotective agent.