Luteolin attenuate the D-galactose-induced renal damage by attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Luteolin is reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of luteolin against the renal damage induced by D-galactose (D-gal). The levels of creatinine (Cr) and urea nitrogen (BUN) were evaluated in plasma, kidney sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin, followed by assessment of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, we also investigated the expression of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and its phosphorylated activation. The results of luteolin treatment showed that the renal damages were attenuated. Luteolin could significantly ameliorate D-gal-induced oxidative damage and suppress the inflammatory response. Moreover, the result also shows that luteolin could significantly inhibit the p38 MAPK phosphorylation in the kidneys from the model of D-gal-treated mice. Therefore, our research suggests that luteolin might be involved in the attenuated oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, hence the protective effects against D-gal-induced renal damage.