Evaluation of effects of melatonin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester on acute potassium dichromate toxicity and genotoxicity in rats

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the possible protective effects of melatonin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on potassium dichromate (K(2) Cr(2)O(7))-induced nephrotoxicity and genotoxicity. METHODS: A total of 40 Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups: control, K(2)Cr(2)O(7)(K(2)Cr(2)O(7)15 mg/kg, one dose, i.p.), K(2)Cr(2)O(7) + melatonin, K(2)Cr(2)O(7) + CAPE, and K(2)Cr(2)O(7) + melatonin + CAPE. Urine and blood samples were collected from rats before scarification. One kidney was collected for histopathological studies, and the other was stored at −80°C for further determination of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR) levels with spectrophotometric method. Comet assay was used to evaluate the genotoxicity. RESULTS: We observed a significant amelioration in genotoxicity by melatonin and simultaneous melatonin + CAPE treatment compared to K(2)Cr(2)O(7) group (p(1), p(2)< 0.05). SOD, CAT, GSH, GST, and MDA levels did not change when compared with controls. When K(2)Cr(2)O(7) applied group was treated with melatonin and CAPE, neither melatonin nor CAPE made any changes in kidney GSH, GST, SOD, and MDA levels (P > 0.05). We noted that treatment with CAPE and melatonin + CAPE together caused a significant decrease in renal tissue damage, an upregulation in the kidney CAT levels (P < 0.05) and a slight healing at GR levels when compared with the K(2)Cr(2)O(7) group. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed, CAPE and melatonin may have protective effects on K(2)Cr(2)O(7) induced nephrotoxicity and cellular damage in rats