AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF CORN SILK EXTRACT AGAINST PACLITAXEL-INDUCED RENAL ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RATS

Corn silk (CS) is a corn by-product that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Paclitaxel (PTX), a common chemotherapy, causes kidney damage by increasing reactive oxygen species, leading to kidney dysfunction. This study investigates the potential ameliorative effects of CS ethanol extract (CSEE) against PTX-induced nephrotoxicity. Adult male Sprague Dawley albino rats “Rattus norvegicus” (n=28) were randomly allotted into four groups: control (G1), CSEE (G2, 400 mg/kg body weight; orally for seven consecutive days), PTX (G3, 2 mg/kg body weight; 4 times, intraperitoneally on alternate days for seven days), and PTX + CSEE (G4). Sera were utilized to evaluate kidney function tests, while the kidney tissues were used for oxidative stress parameters, ultrastructural changes, and DNA damage investigations. The PTX had significantly impaired kidney functions, increased oxidative stress, and induced DNA damage. The kidney ultrastructure examination showed a glomerular basement membrane thickening, podocytes fusion, as well as mitochondrial damage and disarrangement. Conversely, co-administration of PTX+CSEE revealed a significant attenuation of the adverse effects of PTX in almost all parameters examined. In conclusion, CSEE could be utilized as a potential adjunct agent to alleviate the detrimental effects of PTX via reducing oxidative stress, preserving kidney ultrastructure, and protecting against DNA damage.