Effect of Virgin Olive Oil (Olea europea. L) on Kidney Function Impairment and Oxidative Stress Induced by Mercuric Chloride in Rats

The study was designed to investigate the possible protective role of virgin olive oil in mercuric chloride induced renal stress, by using biochemical approaches. The effects of virgin olive oil on mercuric chloride induced oxidative and renal stress were evaluated by serum creatinine, urea and uric acid levels, kidney tissue lipid peroxidation, GSH levels, GSH-Px and GST activities. Administration of mercuric chloride induced significant increase in serum: interleukine1, interleukine6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα) levels, creatinine, urea and uric acid concentration showing renal stress. Mercuric chloride also induced oxidative stress, as indicate by decreased kidney tissue of GSH level, GSH-Px and GST activities along with increase the level of lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, treatment with mercuric chloride caused a marked elevation of kidney weight and decreased body weight. Virgin olive oil treatment markedly reduced elevated serum: IL1, IL6, TNFα, creatinine, urea and uric acid levels and conteracted the deterious effects of mercuric chloride on oxidative stress markers changes caused by HgCl2 in kidney. Our results indicate that virgin olive oil could have a beneficial role against mercuric chloride induced oxidative and renal stress in rat.