Comparative study of the protective effects of coenzyme Q10 and cinnamon extract on possible kidney damage and dysfunction of amiodarone in rats

Background: An increase in free oxygen radicals and proinflammatory cytokines and decrease in intracellular adenosine triphosphate account for the nephrotoxic effect of amiodarone. This study investigated the protective effects of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), cinnamon extract (CE) and the combination of the two (CoCE) on possible amiodarone-induced renal injury in rats. Methods: Thirty male albino Wistar rats were cetegorized into healthy (HG), amiodarone (ADG), CoQ10 + amiodarone (CoQA), CE + amiodarone (CEA), and CoCE + amiodarone (CoCEA) groups. First, CoQ10 (10 mg/kg) and CE (100 mg/kg) were orally given. After 1 h, 50 mg/kg amiodarone was orally given to all groups except for HG. Amiodarone, CoQ10, and CE administration was continued orally at the indicated doses once daily for 10 days.Then, blood samples were collected from all groups to determine creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and kidney injury molecule (KIM-1) levels, followed by euthanasia and removal of kidney tissues. Oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters were analysed in the tissue samples. Histopathological examination was also performed on the tissues. Results: Amiodarone increased malondialdehyde levels and decreased total glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels (p < 0.001). Amiodarone increased the expression and tissue levels of tissue nuclear factor kappa B, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6, and led to increases in serum creatinine and BUN and KIM-1 levels (p < 0.001). Amiodarone also caused histopathological damage (p < 0.001).CoQ10, CE and especially CoCE inhibited biochemical changes and tissue damage (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although CoQ10, CE, and CoCE effectively prevent amiodarone-induced oxidative and inflammatory nephrotoxicity, CoCE appears to be superior. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Japanese Society of Nephrology 2024.