Effect of Alpha Lipoic Acid on Rat Kidneys in Acitretin and Methotrexate Induced Oxidative Injury

Abstract

This experimental study aimed to biochemically evaluate the possible protective effect of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on the kidneys in acitretin (ACT) and methotrexat (MTX) induced damage and toxicity mechanisms. A total of 51 rats weighing 260–420 g were used for the study. The animals were divided into the following four grups: control, ALA, ACT and MTX, and ACT+MTX+ALA. On days 3, 5 and 7 after the injection of the rats, a total of 45 rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation under general anesthesia. The kidney tissue samples for biochemical analysis were taken. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in ALA group showed a non-significant decrease as compared to the control group and it was significantly higher as compared to the ACT+MTX group. A significant increase was also observed compared to the ACT+MTX+ALA group. Catalase (CAT) and Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) levels increased in all groups as compared to the control, but this increase was not significant. Furthermore, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GSR) decreased in all groups as compared to the control group, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Further research using different doses of ALA would be needed to clarify the details of the effect of ALA on the MTX-ACT combination.