Protective Effects of Irigenin against Cyclophosphamide-induced Nephrotoxicity in Male Rats: Comparative Study with Vitamin E

Background: Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent that is effective against a broad spectrum of tumors, with nephrotoxicity as a side effect. Irigenin is a natural isoflavonoid isolated from the rhizome of Belamcanda chinensis that has been reported to exert antioxidant activities. Objective: Evaluating the possible protective effects of irigenin on cyclophosphamide-induced nephrotoxicity in male rats. Methods: Fifty apparently healthy male albino rats were divided into five groups: (control, induction, irigenin, irigenin with cyclophosphamide, and vitamin E with cyclophosphamide. At the end of the experiment (day 29), all rats were sacrificed. Different parameters were evaluated, including urea and creatinine serum concentration, antioxidant markers reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase enzyme, and malondialdehyde level in kidney tissue homogenate, and kidney histological examination. Results: Upon cyclophosphamide administration, malondialdehyde, creatinine, and urea were increased, while their levels were reduced when irigenin was used as pretreatment. On the other hand, the reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase enzyme showed a reverse behavior. Additionally, the histological examination confirmed the nephroprotective effect of irigenin. Conclusions: Irigenin has a protective effect against renal damage induced by cyclophosphamide by amelioration of biochemical markers and oxidative stress parameters.