Rutin attenuates vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity by ameliorating oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation in rats.

Nephrotoxicity is the major limiting factor for the clinical use of vancomycin (VCM) for treatment of serious infections caused by multi-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. This study investigated the renal protective activity of rutin in a rat model of VCM-induced kidney injury in male Wistar rats. VCM intraperitoneally at 200 mg/kg twice daily for 7 successive days resulted in significant elevation of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine as well as urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase. Co-administration of VCM with oral rutin at 150 mg/kg significantly reduced these markers of kidney damage. Rutin also significantly attenuated VCM-induced oxidative stress, inflammatory cell infiltration, apoptosis and decreased IL-1β and TNF-α levels (all P<0.05 or 0.01) in kidneys. Renal recovery from VCM injury was achieved by rutin through increases in Nrf2 and HO-1 and a decrease in NF-кB expression. Our results demonstrated a protective effect of rutin on VCM-induced kidney injury through suppression of oxidative stress, apoptosis and down regulation of the inflammatory response. This study highlights a role for oral rutin as an effective intervention to ameliorate nephrotoxicity in patients undergoing VCM therapy.