Nordihydroguaiaretic acid attenuates potassium dichromate-induced oxidative stress and nephrotoxicity.

Larrea tridentata also known as Creosote bush, Larrea, chaparral, greasewood or gobernadora has been used in the folk medicine for the treatment of several illnesses. The primary product that is present at high concentrations in the leaves from this plant is nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) which is a powerful antioxidant. On the other hand, potassium dichromate (K(2)Cr(2)O(7))-induced nephrotoxicity is associated with oxidative stress. The aim of this work was to study the effect of NDGA on K(2)Cr(2)O(7)-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress. Nephrotoxicity was induced by a single injection of K(2)Cr(2)O(7) (15 mg/Kg). A group of K(2)Cr(2)O(7)-treated rats was administered NDGA by mini osmotic pumps (17 mg/Kg/day). The results show that NDGA was able to ameliorate the structural and functional renal damage evaluated by histopathological analysis and by measuring proteinuria, urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase, serum creatinine, and serum glutathione peroxidase activity. In addition, immunostaining of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and 3-nitrotyrosine, markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress, respectively, was ameliorated by the NDGA treatment. These data strongly suggest that the antioxidant properties of NDGA are involved in its renoprotective effect in K(2)Cr(2)O(7)-treated rats.