Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Dexamethasone-triggered hepatic and renal impairment in albino rats, and its amelioration through royal jelly intervention

Fahaad S Alenazi¹, Naeem Shalan², Sami I Alzarea³, Mohd Alaraj^4,5

¹College of Medicine, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia; ²Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Centre (PDRC), Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman 19328, Jordan; ³Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Aljouf 72341, Saudi Arabia; ⁴Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jerash, Jerash, Jordan; ⁵MEU Research Unit, Middle East University, Amman, Jordan.

For correspondence:- Mohd Alaraj Email: m.araj@jpu.edu.jo Tel:+62798279131

Accepted: 7 July 2024 Published: 31 July 2024

Citation: Alenazi FS, Shalan N, Alzarea SI, Alaraj M. Dexamethasone-triggered hepatic and renal impairment in albino rats, and its amelioration through royal jelly intervention. Trop J Pharm Res 2024; 23(7):1063-1068 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v23i7.3

© 2024 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the hepato-renal protective effect of royal jelly (RJ) against dexamethasone (DEX)-induced toxicity in rat models.

Methods: Twenty-four male albino Wistar rats (divided equally into three groups) were administered DEX with or without RJ while control group received normal saline. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), creatinine, uric acid, albumin, and hepatic activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and catalase, as well as levels of glutathione (GSH) and total protein, were measured. Body, kidney and liver weights, as well as blood glucose concentrations, were measured, before and after treatment.

Results: Dexamethasone (DEX) produced significant hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia and significant increases in concentrations of kidney and liver function biomarkers (p < 0.05). These changes were accompanied by decreased liver levels of GSH, total protein and catalase. These alterations were significantly reversed in DEX-treated rats given RJ, compared to rats receiving only DEX (p < 0.05). Body weights were also significantly augmented in DEX-injected rats given RJ, relative to rats given DEX alone (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Royal jelly significantly reduces DEX-induced renal and hepatic toxicities, which suggests its probable therapeutic significance in inhibiting glucocorticoid-mediated adverse reactions. This phenomenon should be further investigated and the possible mechanism elucidated.

Keywords: Hepato-nephrotoxicity, Dexamethasone, Catalase, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, GSH, Royal Jelly