Potential Therapeutic Effects of Morin Hydrate in Folic Acid-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

Abstract Introduction/Objective Acute kidney injury (AKI) causes significant morbidity and mortality and, if left unmanaged, can progress to chronic kidney disease. Despite the advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of AKI, there are no available therapeutics to combat it effectively. Folic acid (FA)-induced AKI is a well established rat model characterized by acute renal injury due to the disturbance of the antioxidant system with subsequent renal fibrosis. Morin hydrate, a well-known bioactive flavonoid, has been proven to alleviate oxidative stress and exhibits anti- inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective activity. Methods/Case Report We investigated the potential protective and therapeutic effects of morin hydrate on FA-induced AKI. Thirty-five rats were divided randomly into 5 groups (6 rats/ group) as follows: control group received a vehicle for 10 days, FA group received a vehicle for 10 days with an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of a single dose (SD) of FA (250 mg/kg) on the 7thday, FA-Withdrawal group injected with a SD of FA (250 mg/kg IP) on the 1st day with a vehicle for 10 days, morin-pretreated group received morin hydrate (40 mg/kg orally) for 7 days, followed by a SD of FA (250 mg/kg, i.p), and morin-treated group injected with a SD of FA (250 mg/kg IP), then treated with morin hydrate (40 mg/kg orally) for 7 consecutive days. All animals were sacrificed after 10 days and then, blood samples and kidneys were collected for biochemical and histopathological examination. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) FA group showed extensive structural damage in renal tubules and glomeruli with no significant improvement in withdrawal and morin-pretreated groups. Morin treatment significantly attenuated histopathological changes and reduced FA-induced increase in serum creatinine, albumin and urea levels. This therapeutic role of morin was associated with suppression of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Conclusion These findings suggest that morin hydrate constitutes a potential natural therapeutic product for treating AKI.