Alpha-pinene alleviates CCl 4 -induced renal and testicular injury in rats by targeting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Objectives: Renal and testicular disorders are primarily associated with oxidative damage and inflammation. Here, alpha-pinene (a type of monoterpene) was investigated for its effect on oxidative/nitrosative stress and the expression of inflammatory and apoptotic factors in the kidneys and testes of rats treated with CCl ₄ .
Materials and Methods: CCl ₄ was injected intraperitoneally (IP) at a dose of 2 ml/kg (twice a week for six weeks). Alpha-pinene (50 mg/kg/day, IP) was also treated during the same period.
Results: CCl ₄ increased the level of malondialdehyde ( P <0.01 in the kidney and P <0.001 in the testis) and nitric oxide ( P <0.001 in the kidney and P <0.01 in the testis) and decreased the levels of glutathione ( P <0.05) in the kidneys and testicles of rats. CCl ₄ also reduced the catalase enzyme activity in the kidneys ( P <0.05) but did not affect its activity in the testis. In addition, CCl ₄ enhanced the mRNA expression of TNF-α ( P <0.01), nuclear factor-κB (P<0.05), and Bax ( P <0.05 in the kidney and P <0.01 in the testis) and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 ( P <0.05) in both organs. Alpha-pinene prevented all the mentioned changes, but it did not influence the expression of Bcl-2 in the kidneys of rats receiving CCl ₄ .
Conclusion: Alpha-pinene may have the potential to prevent renal and testicular diseases by strengthening the antioxidant system in the kidneys and testis, and inhibiting oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis caused by CCl ₄ .
Competing Interests: None.