Betulinic acid attenuates renal oxidative stress and inflammation in experimental model of murine polymicrobial sepsis

Abstract Sepsis is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of betulinic acid, a triterpenoid in sepsis-induced AKI using cecal ligation puncture (CLP) mouse model. Mice subjected to CLP developed histologic AKI at 18 h after CLP. There was an increase in renal proinflammatory response (nuclear factor-kappa B expression, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10), matrix metalloproteinase-9, plasma creatinine, renal neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and oxidant stress response (malondialdehyde, inducible nitric oxide synthase, total nitrite and superoxide); decrease in anti-oxidant levels (superoxide dismutase and catalase) at 18 h of CLP. However, BA pretreatment at the doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg prevented the CLP-induced kidney damage by restoring the aforementioned inflammatory mediators, oxidant and anti-oxidant imbalance. These evidences suggest that, the protective effects of BA on kidney are associated with defending action against inflammatory and oxidative stress response in CLP mice and BA could be potential therapeutic agent in sepsis-induced AKI.