Effects of Borage Oil on Oxidative Damage, Inflammatory Response (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF- α), and Signaling Pathways (Bax/Bcl-2 and Caspase-3) in Lead Acetate–Induced Nephrotoxicity

Year 2026, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 10 - 17, 16.03.2026

İlyas Bozkurt , Mesut Bünyami Halıcı

https://doi.org/10.62425/pharmata.1868902

https://izlik.org/JA96BU27NW

Abstract

Objective: In this study, the potential protective effects of borage oil (BO), a plant-derived oil of medical and nutritional importance, against lead acetate–induced nephrotoxicity were investigated. Methods: In the experimental model, biochemical alterations related to oxidative stress and the antioxidant defence system in rat kidney tissue were evaluated. A total of 30 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five experimental groups. Nephrotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal administration of lead acetate at a dose of 20 mg/kg for 7 days. Borage seed oil was administered orally at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg for 14 days. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a marker of lipid peroxidation in kidney tissue, were determined using ELISA, while the expression levels of SOD, CAT, and GPx, as well as the gene expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3, were analysed by RT-PCR. In addition, protein expression levels of inflammatory markers associated with the inflammatory response, including IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Results: The results demonstrated that lead acetate increased oxidative stress in kidney tissue, whereas borage oil enhanced antioxidant defense mechanisms and reduced lipid peroxidation. Lead exposure increased the expression of apoptotic markers (Bax and caspase-3) and decreased Bcl-2 expression in renal tissue, while borage oil—particularly at the 100 mg/kg dose—significantly reversed these alterations and markedly suppressed apoptosis. Furthermore, lead exposure significantly increased the expression of pro-inflammatory markers in kidney tissue, whereas borage oil attenuated this increase, particularly for TNF-α and IL-1β (and IL-6 at the higher dose), thereby modulating the lead-induced inflammatory response. Conclusion: Borage oil exhibited a protective effect against lead acetate–induced renal injury and may alleviate nephrotoxicity.

Keywords

Lead acetate , nephrotoxicity , Borage Oil , Oxidative stress , Rat.

Ethical Statement

All experimental procedures involving animals were approved by the Atatürk University Local Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments (approval date: 14 March 2025; decision no: 2025/3; protocol no: 62; approval no: E-75296309-050.01.04-2500096596) and were conducted in accordance with the relevant ethical guidelines for animal research.

Supporting Institution

The authors declare that no financial support was received from any individual, institution, or organization for the conduct of this study.

Thanks

The authors would like to thank Atatürk University for providing the necessary infrastructure and technical facilities during the experimental process.

KURŞUN ASETAT İLE İNDÜKLENEN NEFROTOKSİSİTEDE HODAN YAĞININ OKSİDATİF HASAR, İNFLAMATUVAR YANIT (IL-6, IL-1β ve TNF-α) VE SİNYAL YOLAKLARI (Bax/Bcl-2 ve Kaspaz-3) ÜZERİNE ETKİLERİ

https://izlik.org/JA96BU27NW

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, tıbbi ve besinsel açıdan önemli bir bitkisel yağ olan hodan yağının (BO), kurşun asetat ile oluşturulan nefrotoksisiteye karşı olası koruyucu etkileri araştırılmıştır. Yöntem: Deneysel modelde, sıçan böbrek dokusunda oksidatif stres ve antioksidan savunma sistemi ile ilişkili biyokimyasal değişiklikler değerlendirilmiştir. Toplam 30 adet Sprague Dawley sıçanı rastgele seçilerek beş deney grubuna ayrılmıştır. Nefrotoksisite modeli, sıçanlara 7 gün süreyle intraperitoneal yoldan 20 mg/kg dozunda kurşun asetat uygulanarak oluşturulmuştur. Hodan tohumu yağı ise 14 gün boyunca oral yolla 50 ve 100 mg/kg dozlarında verilmiştir. Böbrek dokusunda lipid peroksidasyonunun göstergesi olan MDA düzeyleri ELISA yöntemiyle belirlenirken SOD, CAT ve GPx ekspresyon düzeyleri ile Bax, Bcl-2 ve kaspaz-3 gen ekspresyonları RT-PCR yöntemi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Ayrıca inflamatuar yanıtla ilişkili IL-6, IL-1β ve TNF-α protein ekspresyonları Western blot yöntemiyle değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Elde edilen bulgular, Kurşun asetat böbrek dokusunda oksidatif stresi artırırken, hodan yağı antioksidan savunmayı güçlendirerek lipid peroksidasyonunu azaltmıştır. Pb maruziyeti böbrek dokusunda apoptotik belirteçleri (Bax ve Kaspaz-3) artırıp Bcl-2 ekspresyonunu azaltırken, hodan yağı özellikle 100 mg/kg dozda bu değişimleri tersine çevirerek apoptozu anlamlı biçimde baskılamıştır. Pb maruziyeti böbrek dokusunda proinflamatuvar belirteçlerin ekspresyonunu anlamlı düzeyde artırırken, hodan yağı özellikle TNF-α ve IL-1β’de (ve yüksek dozda IL-6’da) bu artışı baskılayarak Pb ile indüklenen inflamatuvar yanıtı modüle etmiştir. Sonuç: Hodan yağının kurşun asetata bağlı böbrek hasarına karşı koruyucu etki gösterdiği ve nefrotoksisiteyi hafifletebileceği kanaatine varılmıştır.

Keywords

Kurşun asetat , nefrotoksisite , Hodan yağı , Oksidatif stres

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışmada hayvanlar üzerinde gerçekleştirilen tüm deneysel prosedürler, Atatürk Üniversitesi Hayvan Deneyleri Yerel Etik Kurulu tarafından onaylanmıştır (onay tarihi: 14.03.2025; karar no: 2025/3; protokol no: 62; onay no: E-75296309-050.01.04-2500096596) ve hayvan deneyleriyle ilgili etik ilke ve yönergelere uygun olarak yürütülmüştür.

Supporting Institution

Yazarlar, bu çalışmanın gerçekleştirilmesi sırasında herhangi bir kişi, kurum veya kuruluştan finansal destek alınmadığını beyan eder.

Thanks

Yazarlar, deneysel sürecin yürütülmesinde sağlanan altyapı ve teknik olanaklar için Atatürk Üniversitesi’ne teşekkür eder.

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