Histological study of the protective role of curcumin versusginger on renal corpuscles of carbon tetrachloride-treated mice

IntroductionCarbon tetrachloride (CCl4) has long been known as a model toxicant.Antioxidants are used to antagonize the deleterious action of free radicals.Numerous reports suggest that both curcumin and ginger have antioxidanteffects.Aim of the workThis work was carried out to compare between the possible protective roles ofcurcumin and ginger on renal corpuscles of CCl4-treated adult male albino miceusing light and electron microscopes.Materials and methodsA total of 45 adult male albino mice were used for this study and were dividedinto four groups: group I served as the control group. Group II received0.2 ml/kg CCl4 subcutaneously twice a week for 4 weeks. Group III receivedCCl4 and curcumin concomitantly at a dose of 80 mg/kg once daily orally for4 weeks. Group IV received CCl4 and 1 ml of ginger at a dose of 24 mg/ml oncedaily orally for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, renal specimens wereprocessed for light and electron microscopic study. Morphometric analysis wasalso carried out on electromicrographs to evaluate for filtration barrier integrity.ResultsRenal corpuscles of CCl4-treated mice showed shrunken, lobulated, andhypercellular glomeruli with podocytic affection and mesangial cell proliferation.Morphometric analysis displayed disruption of filtration barrier integrity. Bothcurcumin and ginger resolved most of these morphological alterations. However,ginger was proven to be more potent than curcumin.ConclusionsConcomitant administration of ginger with CCl4 has a more protective effect thancurcumin on the renal corpuscles of adult male albino mice.