Protective effects of Rosa canina fruit extract against kidney damage induced by CCl4.

The study explored the nephroprotective potential of Rosa canina (dog rose) ethanolic fruit extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats, while also analyzing its phytochemical composition using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Male Wistar rats were allocated into five groups: control, R. canina extract alone, CCl4-induced nephrotoxicity, CCl4 with R. canina extract and CCl4 with silymarin. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS revealed 15 compounds in R. canina extract, predominantly anthocyanins, flavonoids, and lycopene. Treatment with R. canina extract significantly ameliorated CCl4-induced kidney dysfunction, abating oxidative stress and inflammation. Enhanced expression of HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1) and Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) mRNA in the kidney suggested their involvement in protective mechanisms. Inhibition of HO-1 attenuated R. canina's protective effect against CCl4-induced kidney injury, underscoring the significance of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. For further validation, high throughput molecular docking analysis were performed. The docking analysis revealed the interaction between HO-1 and Nrf2 against Pelarginidin, Malvidin and Petunidin. Among all the three compounds, pelargonidin showed the highest binding score of -9.3 kcal/mol and -7.7 kcal/mol against Nrf2 and HO-1 respectively. In conclusion, R. canina extract, rich in phenolics, exhibited nephroprotective effects via inflammation and oxidative stress attenuation, potentially mediated through Nrf2/HO-1 pathway modulation against CCl4-induced nephrotoxicity.