The Effect of Nanocurcumin on Di-Ethylhexyl Phthalate-Induced Injury in Rats' Renal Cortex (A Histological and Biochemical Study)

Background: One of the majorities of widely used phthalates is Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a synthetic industrial chemical that has become a global pollutant. DEHP has harmful effects on various body organs, especially the kidney. Compared to native curcumin, Nanocurcumin, a form of the herb in nanoparticle form, is more soluble, better absorbed, has a higher cellular uptake efficiency, requires lower dosages, and more precisely targets the affected tissue to exhibit its therapeutic effects. Our aim was to assess Nanocurcumin's potential therapeutic impact on DEHP induced renal cortical injury in adult male albino rats. Methods: Twenty-five adult male albino rats were classified to three groups as : group I control group (15 rats) divided into three subgroups: [subgroup Ia remained untreated until the experiment's end, subgroup Ib given corn oil as 5 mL/kg per day and subgroup Ic given nanocurcumin at dose of 100 mg/kg per day dissolved in distilled water orally for 28 days consecutively], group II (5 rats) (DEHP group) given DEHP at a dose of 500 mg/kg per day orally dissolved in corn oil for 28 days consecutively, group III (5 rats) (Nanocurcumin-treated group) given Nanocurcumin at dose of 100 mg/kg per day dissolved in distilled water orally for 28 days consecutively in combination with DEHP in the same way as group II. Biochemical investigation for kidney function tests,MDA and SOD were done. Kidney tissue was prepared for H&E, Sirius red stains, immunohistochemical staining for Desmin and β-catenin and electron microscope examination. Statistical and morphometrical studies were conducted.