S-allylcysteine ameliorates ischemia and reperfusion induced renal damage

The effect of the garlic-derived antioxidant S-alIylcysteine (SAC) on renal injury and oxidative stress induced by ischemia and reperfusion (IR) was studied in this work. Rats were anesthetized and subjected to right nephrectomy; 15 min later ischemia was induced for a period of 40 min and then the rats were subjected to a reperfusion period of 6 h after which they were killed to obtain blood and the left kidney. SAC was given at a dose of 100 mg/kg 30 min before nephrectomy, 15 min before ischemia, immediately before reperfusion and 2 h after reperfusion. IR-induced renal injury was evident by the increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine as well as by the renal structural damage which was assessed by histological analysis. IR-induced oxidative stress was evident by the increase in immunostaining with 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE). SAC treatment was able to ameliorate the increase in BUN and serum creatinine and to decrease the structural damage. This protective effect was associated with a decrease in the immunostaining for 4-HNE. It is concluded that the antioxidant properties of SAC are involved in its protective effect on renal ischemia and reperfusion injury.