Protective effect of carnosine against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice

The nephroprotective effect of the natural antioxidant carnosine was evaluated in mice with cisplatin-induced acute renal damage, in which generation of reactive oxygen species plays a major role. Nephrotoxicity was induced by a single i.p. injection of cisplatin (20 mg/kg). Carnosine was administered for six consecutive days in a dose of 10 mg/kg/day, i.p., starting 3 days before cisplatin injection. The results revealed that carnosine treatment significantly reduced blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels elevated by cisplatin administration. Also, carnosine significantly attenuated cisplatin-induced increase in malondialdehyde and decrease in reduced glutathione, and catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in renal cortical homogenates. Additionally, histopathological examination and scoring showed that carnosine markedly ameliorated cisplatin-induced renal tubular necrosis. In conclusion, carnosine can be considered a feasible candidate to protect against nephrotoxicity commonly encountered with cisplatin treatment.