The protective effect of Boesenbergia rotunda extract on cisplatin-exposed human embryonic kidney-۲۹۳ cells by inhibiting the expression of kidney injury molecule-۱, neutrophil gelatinase associated-lipocalin, NF-κB, and caspases

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major problem in platinum-based chemotherapy patients. Boesenbergia rotunda can induce the generation of osteoblast cells and significantly increase pancreatic antioxidant enzyme activities; therefore, this study aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity of cisplatin on human embryonic kidney-۲۹۳ (HEK-۲۹۳) cells and the protective impact of the ethanol extract of B. rotunda (EEBR) against such conditions. Methods: Cytotoxicity was assessed using the CCK-۸/WST-۸ reagent, while the protective activity was assayed on ۱ μg/mL cisplatin-exposed HEK-۲۹۳ cells by quantifying the expression of nephrotoxicity biomarkers, e.g., kidney injury molecule-۱ (Kim-۱) and neutrophil gelatinase associated-lipocalin (NGAL), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), apoptotic caspase-۳, and caspase-۷ genes, in cisplatin-exposed HEK-۲۹۳ cells. Results: Cisplatin was confirmed as highly toxic against the HEK-۲۹۳ cells (IC۵۰ = ۲.۵۱۴۵ μg/mL), whereas quercetin was of moderate toxicity (IC۵۰ = ۱۸۵.۶۲۲۵ μg/mL). EEBR revealed an IC۵۰ = ۴۰.۰۶۵۵ μg/mL. Moreover, EEBR concentrations of ۵, ۱۰, and ۲۰ μg/mL confirmed its remarkable protective activity against cisplatin-exposed HEK-۲۹۳ cells (P = ۰.۰۳۱, ۰.۰۱۴, ۰.۰۴۶, respectively) compared to the cisplatin-treated cell lines without treatment. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed that a higher concentration of EEBR significantly suppressed the expression of Kim-۱, while lower concentrations of EEBR significantly inhibited NGAL and NF-κB genes. Higher concentrations of EEBR reduced the expression of caspase-۳. All concentrations of EEBR stimulated the expression of caspase-۷. Conclusion: The significant protective activity observed in this study indicated that EEBR might be beneficial in protecting kidney cells against cisplatin.