Morus alba leaves extract attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity in male rats

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an antitumor antibiotic that exerts diverse effects on human malignancies. It is a widely recognized cause of drug-induced nephrotoxicity. Morus alba (white mulberry) exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study intended to assess the potential therapeutic effect of Morus alba leaves extract (MALE) against DOX-induced nephrotoxicity in male rats. Thirty-two male rats were categorized into four groups (n = 8): the control group, the MALE-supplemented group (25 mg/kg), the DOX-treated group (15 mg/kg, single dose), and the DOX-treated group thereafter receiving MALE treatment. Upon completion of the experiment, the blood was taken, and the kidneys were excised for biochemical and histological analysis. Rats administered DOX exhibited significant impaired renal function, oxidative stress, inflammation, and histopathological and apoptotic alterations in the renal tissues. MALE demonstrated a remarkable restoration of renal function, indicated by a notable reduction in serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and TGF-β1 levels, alongside a substantial increase in albumin levels. Furthermore, MALE effectively mitigated the renal oxidative stress and inflammation triggered by DOX, as evidenced by elevated renal SOD and CAT activities, increased GSH content, and reduced levels of MDA, 8-OHdG, TNF-α, and IL-1β. The renal histopathological signs induced by DOX were substantially mitigated by MALE therapy. Moreover, MALE attenuated the apoptotic effects of DOX in renal tissues by inhibiting caspase-3 activity and promoting the overexpression of Bcl-2. Conclusion: The extract of Morus alba leaves has a powerful beneficial effect in mitigating doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in renal tissues.