Caffeic acid phenethyl ester changes the indices of oxidative stress in serum of rats with renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

Oxygen-derived free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of renal injury after ischaemia-reperfusion. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis extract, exhibits antioxidant properties. To investigate whether treatment with either CAPE or alpha-tocopherol modifies the levels of the endogenous indices of oxidant stress, we examined their effects on an in vivo model of renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats. CAPE at 10 micromol kg(-1) or alpha-tocopherol at 10 mg kg(-1) was administered intraperitoneally before reperfusion. Acute administration of both CAPE and alpha-tocopherol altered the indices of oxidative stress differently in renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.