Abstract
Background:
Vancomycin (VM) is widely used for treating life-threatening infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria resistant to other antibiotics. However, its nephrotoxic effects limit clinical use.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Daflon (DF) and Centrum (CE) against VM-induced nephrotoxicity in male rats.
Methods:
Fifty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 (negative control) received saline intraperitoneally (IP) for 7 days followed by oral distilled water for 7 days. Group 2 (positive control) received VM (400 mg/kg BW, IP) for 7 days. Group 3 received VM for 7 days followed by DF (100 mg/kg BW, oral) for 7 days. Group 4 received VM for 7 days followed by CE (15 mg/kg BW, oral) for 7 days. Group 5 received VM for 7 days followed by combined DF and CE treatment for 7 days. Blood and kidney samples were collected for hematological, biochemical, molecular, comet assay, and histopathological evaluations.
Results:
VM administration significantly elevated serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels (p < 0.01), increased renal malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities (p < 0.05). It also induced marked histological changes and increased DNA fragmentation. DF and CE, particularly in combination (Group 5), significantly reduced renal injury, DNA fragmentation, and histopathological alterations. The protective effect followed the order: G5 > G4 > G3 > G2. Furthermore, VM upregulated PARP1, RIP1, KIM1, TNF-α, and IL-1β expression, which were markedly downregulated by DF and CE.
Conclusion:
DF and CE attenuated VM-induced nephrotoxicity through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and DNA-protective mechanisms. Their combination provided superior renal protection by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, while enhancing antioxidant defenses and DNA repair capacity.
1 Introduction
Acute kidney disease (AKD) is a serious medical condition characterized by a rapid and reversible decline in renal function. It is associated with a high risk of permanent kidney damage, poor prognosis, and substantial healthcare costs. Several essential medications have been reported to induce AKD, thereby limiting their clinical utility (). Vancomycin (VM), a glycopeptide antibiotic, belongs to a class that includes teicoplanin, decaplanin, and ramoplanin—cyclic, glycosylated polycyclic peptides. Due to their toxicity, these drugs are typically reserved for patients with β-lactam allergies (). VM is commonly used to treat infections caused by aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus epidermidis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (). It is also prescribed for various infections such as Clostridioides difficile, endocarditis, septicemia, meningitis, peritonitis, joint, and skin infections (). VM exerts its antimicrobial effect by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis via binding to the D-Ala-D-Ala terminal of peptidoglycan precursors (). However, nephrotoxicity remains a significant adverse effect (), and its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood (). Studies suggest that oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis are central to VM-induced nephrotoxicity, particularly affecting renal proximal tubular epithelial cells and leading to tubular injury and ischemia (). Free radicals generated during VM treatment can disrupt endogenous antioxidant defenses, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), contributing to renal impairment (). Additionally, VM can induce DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and activation of apoptosis-related pathways, including cytochrome c release and caspase activation (). VM has also been shown to overactivate poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), further promoting apoptosis (). Therefore, protecting renal tissue from oxidative and DNA damage may enhance the therapeutic benefits of VM.
Natural compounds with antioxidant properties offer potential protection against VM-induced renal injury. Daflon (DF) is an oral micronized flavonoid formulation containing 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin. Flavonoids exhibit various biological activities, including antioxidant effects (; ). They reduce oxidative stress by neutralizing superoxide radicals, which results in the formation of hydrogen peroxide and anti-inflammatory flavonoid radicals (). Centrum (CE) is a multivitamin and multimineral supplement containing essential vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D3, E, K) and minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium, phosphorus, and others), formulated to support nutritional balance and physiological wellness (). In AKD, deficiencies in vitamins such as B1, B2, B6, C, D, and K are common (; ). These vitamins and minerals exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. For example, vitamin C mitigates organ damage by reducing oxidative stress; vitamin E prevents lipid peroxidation (); and vitamin D3 enhances antioxidant defenses by upregulating enzymes like SOD (). Vitamin B2 has been shown to increase renal antioxidant enzymes (GR, GSH, SOD, CAT) in toxicity models (). Lutein, another CE component, reduces inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB and PI3K signaling pathways (). Moreover, phosphorus supports antioxidant function, and its deficiency has been linked to increased ROS and lipid peroxidation (). Magnesium deficiency impairs mitochondrial function and promotes ROS generation ().
Based on this evidence, we hypothesized that DF and CE may offer protective effects against VM-induced nephrotoxicity by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic pathways. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the potential therapeutic benefits of DF, CE, or their combination in mitigating VM-induced acute kidney injury and DNA damage in rats, and to explore their mechanisms of action through evaluation of biochemical, inflammatory, and apoptotic markers.
2 Materials and methods
2.1 Studied materials
Vancomycin was obtained as a 500 mg powder for injection (Vancobact® One, Egypharma, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt). Daflon was purchased as Daflon® 1,000 mg tablets, each containing a purified micronized flavonoid fraction composed of 900 mg diosmin (90%) and 100 mg flavonoids expressed as hesperidin (10%) (Serdia Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, India). Centrum was acquired as Centrum with Lutein®, which contains a blend of vitamins, minerals, and lutein, as detailed in Table 1. Both DF and CE were sourced from Serdia Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, India.
TABLE 1
| Vitamins | Weights | Vitamins | Weights | Minerals | Weights | Minerals | Weights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vit. A | 400 µg | Vit. B6 | 2 mg | Calcium | 162 µg | Potassium | 40 mg |
| Vit. E | 14.9 IU | Vit. B12 | 1 µg | Iodine | 100 µg | Chromium | 40 µg |
| Vit. C | 60 mg | Vit. D3 | 200 IU | Iron | 10 mg | Molybdenum | 50 µg |
| Folic acid | 195 µg | Biotin | 100 µg | Magnesium | 50 mg | Selenium | 30 µg |
| Vit. B1 | 1.4 mg | Pantothenic acid | 6 mg | Copper | 0.5 mg | Zinc | 5 mg |
| Vit. B2 | 1.6 mg | Vit. K1 | 30 µg | Manganese | 1 mg | Other ingredients | |
| Niacinamide | 18 mg | Phosphorus | 125 mg | Lutein | 250 µg | ||
Active ingredients of Centrum.
2.2 Rats and trial design
Fifty healthy male albino Wistar rats, weighing between 120 and 140 g, were obtained from the Laboratory Animal Farm in Giza, Egypt. The animals were housed in the animal facility of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, under controlled environmental conditions: 23 °C ± 2 °C temperature, 50% relative humidity, and a 12-h light/dark cycle. Rats had free access to water and a standard pellet diet. A 2-week acclimatization period was allowed prior to the start of the experiment.
At the beginning of the study, rats were weighed and randomly allocated into five groups of ten animals each (Table 2). All experimental protocols were approved by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Egypt, in accordance with institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals (Approval No. VUSC-044-1-20). The experimental design followed the protocol of to evaluate the protective effects of Daflon (DF) and Centrum (CE) against VM-induced nephrotoxicity. The study lasted 14 days.
TABLE 2
| Experimental period | ||
|---|---|---|
| Treatments | From the 1st to the 7th day of the experiment | From the 8th to the 14th day of the trial |
| Control | Normal saline IP 1 mL | Distilled water orally 1 mL |
| VM | VM (IP) (400 mg/kg BW) | Scarify rats after first 7 days |
| VM + DF | VM (IP) (400 mg/kg BW) | DF (orally) (100 mg/kg BW) |
| VM + CE | VM (IP) (400 mg/kg BW) | CE (orally) (15 mg/kg BW) |
| VM + DF + CE | VM (IP) (400 mg/kg BW) | DF (orally) (100 mg/kg BW) + CE (orally) (15 mg/kg BW) |
Experimental design of the study.
Group 1 (negative control) received 1 mL of normal saline intraperitoneally (IP) for 7 days, followed by 1 mL of distilled water orally for the next 7 days. Group 2 (positive control) received VM (400 mg/kg body weight) via IP injection for 7 days (). Group 3 received VM (400 mg/kg BW, IP) for 7 days, followed by oral administration of DF (100 mg/kg BW) once daily for another 7 days (). Group 4 received VM (400 mg/kg BW, IP) for 7 days, followed by oral CE (15 mg/kg BW) once daily for 7 days (Paget and Barnes 1964). Group 5 was treated with VM (400 mg/kg BW, IP) for 7 days, followed by a combination of DF (100 mg/kg BW, oral) and CE (15 mg/kg BW, oral) once daily for 7 days.
2.3 Sampling
At the end of the experimental period (on day 7 for Group 2 and day 14 for Groups 1, 3, 4, and 5), the rats were subjected to a 12-h fasting period prior to sample collection. Under diethyl ether anesthesia (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO, United States), blood samples were collected from six rats per group via retro-orbital puncture. Each blood sample was divided into two portions: the first was placed in EDTA-containing tubes for hematological analysis, while the second was transferred into non-heparinized centrifuge tubes, allowed to clot, and then centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 15 min to separate the serum. The collected serum was stored at −20 °C for subsequent biochemical assays.
After blood collection, the rats were euthanized by cervical dislocation to obtain kidney tissue samples. The kidneys were immediately excised, rinsed with cold saline to remove residual blood, and blotted dry with filter paper. Each kidney was then divided into two portions. One portion was stored at −80 °C for gene expression analysis, comet assay, and other biochemical investigations. The other portion was fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathological examination.
2.4 Growth performance
Initial body weight (BW), BW after 1 week, and final BW were recorded to assess body weight changes in the rats. Feed intake (FI) was calculated by subtracting the remaining feed from the amount provided the previous day. Weight gain (WG) was measured over the 2-week experimental period. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated by dividing WG by FI, as described by and .
2.5 Absolute and relative body and organ weights
On the day of sacrifice, prior to euthanasia, the experimental rats were weighed. After sacrifice, the kidneys were carefully excised, cleared of surrounding tissues, and weighed. The relative organ weight (ROW) of the kidneys was calculated using the following formula ():
2.6 Hematological investigation
After collection, blood samples were immediately analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer and cell counter (Sysmex F-800, Tokyo, Japan) to assess the following hematological parameters: hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV %), total leukocyte count (TLC), platelet count (Plt), red blood cell (RBC) count, and differential leukocyte counts.
2.7 Biochemical evaluation
Serum levels of albumin, uric acid, total protein, creatinine, and urea were measured using commercial kits following the manufacturer’s instructions (Bio-Diagnostic, Dokki, Giza, Egypt).
2.8 Preparation of renal tissue homogenate
Renal tissues were weighed and prepared for analysis by adding ice-cold phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4) at a volume corresponding to 25% w/v based on tissue weight. Samples were placed on ice and homogenized using an ultrasonic sonicator (Qsonica, Newtown, CT, United States) to disrupt cell walls and release intracellular contents. The homogenates were then centrifuged at 1700 rpm for 10 min in a refrigerated centrifuge. The resulting supernatants were collected into fresh Eppendorf tubes and stored at −80 °C for subsequent biochemical analysis of oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers ().
2.9 Oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers in tissue homogenate
Antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured using commercially available colorimetric assay kits (Biodiagnostic, Dokki, Giza, Egypt), following the manufacturer’s instructions. Renal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were assessed as an indicator of lipid peroxidation (), while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity () and catalase activity () were also determined.
2.10 Kidney injury marker genes (quantitative RT-PCR)
Total RNA was extracted from tissue samples using the QIAamp RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germany). Briefly, 100 mg of tissue was homogenized in 600 µL of RLT buffer containing 10 µL of β-mercaptoethanol per milliliter. Homogenization was performed using the Qiagen TissueLyser with adaptor sets and clamps, operating at 30 Hz for 2 min. The resulting lysate was mixed with an equal volume of 70% ethanol. RNA purification was then completed following the manufacturer’s protocol for total RNA extraction from animal tissue (Qiagen, Germany).
Reverse transcription and real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) were carried out using specific oligonucleotide primers (listed in Table 3, synthesized by OligoTM). Each 20 µL reaction mixture included 3 µL of RNA template, 4 µL of nuclease-free water, 1 µL of RT enzyme mix (20X), 10 µL of HERA SYBR® Green RT-qPCR Master Mix (2X), and 1 µL of each primer (200 nM). Reactions were run on a real-time PCR system (Applied Biosystems). Amplification curves and cycle threshold (Ct) values were obtained, and relative gene expression levels were analyzed using the ΔΔCt method, comparing each sample to the positive control group ().
TABLE 3
| Target gene | Primers sequences | References |
|---|---|---|
| KIM-1 | GGTCACCCTGTCACAATTCC | |
| CTCGGCAACAATACAGACCA | ||
| PARP-1 | GACACGGTTTTCATTGTCCA | |
| TGAGACTCAGCAGGCAGGTA | ||
| RIP-1 | AGGTACAGGAGTTTGGTATGGGC | |
| GGTGGTGCCAAGGAGATGTATG | ||
| IL-1β | CACCTCTCAAGCAGAGCACAG | |
| GGGTTCCATGGTGAAGTCAAC | ||
| TNF-α | AAATGGGCTCCCTCTCATCAGTTC | |
| TCTGCTTGGTGGTTTGCTACGAC | ||
| β-actin | AAGTCCCTCACCCTCCCAAAAG | |
| AAGCAATGCTGTCACCTTCCC |
Primers sequences, amplicon sizes, target genes, and cycling conditions for SYBR green RT-PCR.
The RT-PCR was performed under the following cycling conditions: reverse transcription at 55 °C for 15 min, enzyme activation at 95 °C for 5 min, followed by 40 cycles of denaturation at 95 °C for 10 s, annealing (or strengthening) at 58 °C–60 °C for 10 s depending on the target gene, and extension at 60 °C for 30 s. Primers for the target genes KIM-1, PARP-1, RIP-1, IL-1β, TNF-α, and β-actin were used as listed in Table 3.
2.11 Comet assay for DNA damage (single cell gel electrophoresis)
To assess potential DNA damage resulting from the various treatments, the Comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis, SCGE) was performed according to the method described by . The comet assay was performed using the Comet Assay Kit (Trevigen, Gaithersburg, MD, United States; Cat. No. 4250-050-K) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Slides were examined using a fluorescence microscope (Olympus BX53, Tokyo, Japan) equipped with a ×40 objective lens and a FITC filter set, and images were captured with a DP74 digital camera and analyzed using CometScore 2.0 software (TriTek Corp., Sumerduck, VA, United States). The assay procedure followed the method of with minor modifications.
Kidney tissue samples stored at −80 °C were used for the comet assay. Single-cell suspensions were prepared as follows: A small tissue block (∼25–40 mg) was kept on dry ice and finely diced with a sterile, chilled scalpel. The tissue was gently homogenized in 1 mL ice-cold homogenization buffer (PBS with 20 mM EDTA and 10% DMSO) using a glass Dounce tissue grinder (∼10 × passes on ice). The homogenate was passed through a 70 µm nylon cell strainer into a pre-chilled tube to remove debris. Cells were pelleted at 200 × g for 5 min at 4 °C, resuspended gently in 300 µL ice-cold PBS, and kept on ice until embedding in low-melting-point agarose on microscope slides. Finally, slides were processed under alkaline conditions (pH > 13), electrophoresed at 1 V/cm for 20 min, neutralized, stained (e.g., ethidium bromide), and analyzed using fluorescence microscopy. At least 100 nuclei per sample were scored for % tail DNA using automated image analysis software ().
This technique detects DNA strand breaks and alkali-labile sites by evaluating the migration of DNA fragments under an electric field. Cells from the control and treated groups were embedded in an agarose gel layer on microscope slides. The slides were then immersed in a lysis solution to dissolve cell membranes and proteins, leaving the nuclear DNA immobilized within the gel. After lysis, the slides were incubated in an alkaline buffer to denature the DNA, allowing strand breaks to unwind the supercoiled DNA and relax the structure. An electric field was then applied, causing fragmented DNA to migrate from the nucleus toward the anode, forming a “comet tail.” The extent of DNA migration reflects the degree of damage: the more relaxed and fragmented the DNA, the longer the tail. Following electrophoresis, the slides were neutralized, fixed in ethanol, and stained with GelRed®, a fluorescent dye that binds specifically to DNA. The slides were examined under a fluorescence microscope, and image analysis software was used to measure parameters such as tail length and the percentage of DNA in the tail. The tail moment, calculated by multiplying tail length by tail DNA percentage, served as a quantitative indicator of DNA damage. DNA damage was classified into five grades based on tail length: Grade 0 (<5%) indicating no damage; Grade I (5%–20%) slight damage; Grade II (20%–40%) moderate damage; Grade III (40%–95%) severe damage; and Grade IV (>95%) indicating extensive DNA damage.
2.12 Histopathological investigation
Kidney tissue samples were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, washed with water, dehydrated through a graded series of ethanol, cleared in xylene, and embedded in paraffin. Thin sections (4–6 µm) were then prepared, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and examined as described by . Validation of the scoring system’s repeatability and biological relevance, and employing appropriate statistical analysis to produce reliable results in comparative and toxicological pathology studies ().
2.13 Statistical analysis
Data were expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). One-way ANOVA was performed to compare differences among groups, followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test for post-hoc analysis using SPSS version 21. Statistical significance was considered at P ≤ 0.05.
3 Results
3.1 Growth findings, absolute and relative kidney weights
In the current study, the VM + DF + CE group showed a significant improvement in body weight (BW) and weight gain (WG), along with a notable reduction in feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the other VM-treated groups (p < 0.05) (Table 4). No significant differences were observed in relative kidney weights among the treatment groups (Table 5). In the VM group, the initial BW was 122.00 ± 2.54 g, increasing to 139.00 ± 2.44 g after 1 week. The feed intake (FI) was 55.00 ± 2.73 g, resulting in a WG of 17.00 ± 2.54 g and an FCR of 3.44 ± 0.16.
TABLE 4
| Treatments | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Items | Control | VM | VM + DF | VM + CE | VM + DF + CE | P-Value |
| Initial BW, g | 123.00 ± 2.54 | 122.00 ± 2.54 | 122.00 ± 2.54 | 123.00 ± 2.54 | 123.00 ± 2.54 | 0.901 |
| Final BW, g | 176.00 ± 5.78a | 139.00 ± 2.44c | 150.00 ± 4.74b | 151.00 ± 5.37b | 166.00 ± 2.44a | <0.001 |
| FI, g | 160.00 ± 6.80a | 55.00 ± 2.73d | 111.00 ± 6.78c | 122.00 ± 8.74bc | 133.00 ± 6.81b | <0.001 |
| WG, g | 49.00 ± 3.67a | 17.00 ± 2.54c | 28.00 ± 2.54b | 28.00 ± 4.06b | 43.00 ± 4.06a | <0.001 |
| FCR (%) | 3.30 ± 0.13b | 3.44 ± 0.16b | 3.99 ± 0.024a | 4.58 ± 0.05a | 3.90 ± 3.16b | 0.01 |
Effect of DF and CE with VM on body weight parameters.
a,b,cdMeans within the same raw arrying different letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). VM, group not included in significance (data of 1 week), but other data of 14 days.
TABLE 5
| Items | Treatments | P-Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | VM | VM + DF | VM + CE | VM + DF + CE | ||
| Absolute kidney weight (g) | 1.22 ± 0.01 | 1.44 ± 0.13 | 1.28 ± 0.06 | 1.35 ± 0.05 | 1.26 ± 0.05 | 0.33 |
| Relative kidney weight (g) | 0.85 ± 0.04 | 1.03 ± 0.07 | 0.87 ± 0.03 | 0.96 ± 0.05 | 0.90 ± 0.04 | 0.14 |
Effect of DF and CE with VM on relative and absolute kidney weight of the rats.
3.2 Daflon and/or Centrum may mitigate vancomycin-induced alterations in hematological parameters
The impact of DF and CE co-administration with VM on hematological parameters is presented in Table 6. A significant (p ≤ 0.05) reduction in hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) count, and packed cell volume (PCV) was observed in the VM-treated group compared to all other groups. However, these reductions were ameliorated by the administration of DF and CE. Although the VM + DF, VM + CE, and VM + DF + CE groups showed slightly increased values compared to the control group, the differences were not statistically significant. Additionally, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) among the groups. The red cell distribution width (RDW) was slightly higher in the VM group compared to the negative control, but this difference was also not significant (p > 0.05). Co-treatment with DF and/or CE restored erythrogram indices closer to control levels and yielded marked improvements. In contrast, VM-treated rats exhibited significantly altered erythrogram parameters compared to controls. Furthermore, total white blood cell (TWBC) count, neutrophils, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio were significantly elevated (p ≤ 0.05) in the VM group, while lymphocyte counts were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). These changes were reversed in the VM + DF, VM + CE, and VM + DF + CE groups, which showed improved lymphocyte counts and a reduced N/L ratio compared to the VM group.
TABLE 6
| Parameters | Treatments | P-value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | VM | VM + DF | VM + CE | VM + DF + CE | ||
| RBCs (106/μL) | 5.67 ± 0.19b | 5.18 ± 0. 07c | 6.26 ± 0.13a | 5.98 ± 0.04ab | 5.94 ± 0.25ab | <0.001 |
| Hb(g/dL) | 12.80 ± 0.46b | 10.66 ± 0.40c | 14.04 ± 0.23a | 12.78 ± 0.18b | 12.56 ± 0.39b | <0.003 |
| PCV (%) | 36.98 ± 0. 97a | 27.48 ± 6.03b | 41.58 ± 0. 85a | 39.38 ± 0.43a | 38.48 ± 0. 89a | <0.020 |
| MCV (fl) | 65.14 ± 0. 80 | 65.74 ± 3.2 | 69.42 ± 0.37 | 65.94 ± 0. 59 | 69.24 ± 0.74 | 0.106 |
| MCH (pg) | 22.40 ± 0. 17 | 22.29 ± 0.61 | 23.40 ± 0. 55 | 21.22 ± 0. 26 | 22.42 ± 0.06 | 0.01 |
| MCHC (g/dL) | 34.70 ± 0. 29 | 29.20 ± 2.57 | 33.84 ± 0. 76 | 32.40 ± 0.22 | 32.70 ± 0. 53 | 0.02 |
| RDW (%) | 15.34 ± 0.17ab | 15.50 ± 0.20ab | 14.88 ± 0.22b | 16.36 ± 0.44a | 16.22 ± 0.47a | 0.02 |
| PLTs (×103/μL) | 969 ± 50.16a | 956 ± 28.87a | 891 ± 36.02ab | 835 ± 26.47a | 904 ± 37.48ab | 0.04 |
| TLC (103/μL) | 10.68 ± 0. 67bc | 17.54 ± 1.44a | 12.11 ± 0. 95bc | 15.27 ± 1.38ab | 17.02 ± 1.82a | 0.05 |
| Neutrophil (%) | 7.60 ± 1.50c | 20.00 ± 1.70a | 10.00 ± 0. 70bc | 11.40 ± 0.74b | 8.60 ± 0.51bc | 0.04 |
| Lymphocyte (%) | 86.80 ± 2.57a | 75.80 ± 1.85b | 85.20 ± 0.86a | 82.20 ± 0.66a | 85.20 ± 0.48a | 0.01 |
| Monocyte (%) | 4.80 ± 1.06c | 3.20 ± 0.20a | 3.80 ± 0.20c | 5.00 ± 0.54b | 4.60 ± 0.40c | 0.4 |
| Eosinophil (%) | 1.00 ± 0.00 | 1.00 ± 0.00 | 1.00 ± 0.00 | 1.07 ± 0.24 | 1.27 ± 0.24 | 0.004 |
| Basophil (%) | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.33 ± 0.33 | 0.33 ± 0.33 | 0.33 ± 0.33 | 0.08 |
| N/L ratio | 0.08 ± 0.02b | 0.27 ± 0.02a | 0.08 ± 0.01b | 0.08 ± 0.01b | 0.12 ± 0.007b | 0.02 |
Effect of DF and CE with VM on blood profile of male rats.
a,b,cMeans within the identical raw carrying dissimilar letters are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05).
3.3 Daflon and/or Centrum may abrogate vancomycin-induced alterations in kidney function biomarkers in rats
Significantly elevated serum levels of creatinine, uric acid, and urea (p < 0.05) in the VM-treated group indicated pronounced nephrotoxicity compared to the control rats. However, no significant differences were observed in serum albumin, globulin, or total protein levels among the treated groups. The albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio was slightly higher in most groups, though this increase was not statistically significant, except for group G5 (VM + DF + CE), which showed a significant reduction. Notably, co-administration of DF and CE with VM (VM + DF + CE) more effectively restored the kidney function markers to near-normal levels compared to VM + DF or VM + CE alone (Table 7).
TABLE 7
| Items | Treatments | P-value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | VM | VM + DF | VM + CE | VM + DF + CE | ||
| Urea (mg/dL) | 39.56 ± 3.06c | 127.00 ± 25.42a | 77.40 ± 1.40b | 114.00 ± 4.44a | 68.00 ± 6.34bc | <0.001 |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.43 ± 0.03c | 1.48 ± 0.20a | 1.21 ± 0.01a | 1.37 ± 0.04a | 0.84 ± 0.06b | 0.03 |
| Uric acid (mg/dL) | 5.39 ± 0.65d | 17.20 ± 1.59a | 8.73 ± 0.66bc | 9.71 ± 0.21b | 6.54 ± 0.60cd | <0.001 |
| Total protein (mg/dL) | 5.56 ± 0.23 | 5.54 ± 0.28 | 5.49 ± 0.24 | 5.58 ± 0.17 | 5.54 ± 0.23 | 0.7 |
| Albumin (mg/dL) | 4.18 ± 0.13 | 4.02 ± 0.16 | 4.06 ± 0.024 | 3.98 ± 0.05 | 3.90 ± 0.10 | 0.7 |
| Globulin (mg/dL) | 1.38 ± 0.07 | 1.52 ± 0.05 | 1.43 ± 0.08 | 1.60 ± 0.06 | 1.64 ± 0.06 | 0.05 |
| A/G ratio | 3.02 ± 0.25ab | 2.64 ± 0.19ab | 2.84 ± 0.16ab | 2.50 ± 0.10ab | 2.37 ± 0.12b | 0.01 |
Effect of DF and/or CE on vancomycin-triggered abnormalities in serum kidney function.
a,b,c,dMeans within the same raw carrying different letters are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05).
3.4 Daflon and/or Centrum may ameliorate vancomycin-induced oxidative stress in the kidney by modulating oxidant and antioxidant biomarkers
VM-treated animals showed a significant increase in serum MDA levels (p ≤ 0.05), accompanied by a marked reduction in CAT and SOD activities compared to the control group. However, co-administration of DF or CE with VM reversed these alterations. Notably, group G5 (VM + DF + CE) demonstrated results that closely approached those of the normal control group and outperformed the groups receiving DF or CE alone. These findings highlight the protective role of DF and CE in mitigating VM-induced oxidative stress and preserving kidney function (Table 8).
TABLE 8
| Items | Treatments | P-Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | VM | VM + DF | VM + CE | VM + DF + CE | ||
| MDA (nmol/g) | 5.73 ± 0.53d | 16.90 ± 0.43a | 9.50 ± 0.25c | 11.64 ± 0.79b | 6.79 ± 0.29d | 0.06 |
| CAT (U/g) | 137 ± 3.31a | 56.10 ± 4.06c | 98.29 ± 2.90b | 97.23 ± 1.93b | 138 ± 0.06a | <0.001 |
| SOD (U/g) | 12.90 ± 0.76a | 3.59 ± 0.63c | 8.53 ± 0.15b | 8.68 ± 0.46b | 12.70 ± 0.39a | 0.01 |
Effect of DF and/or CE on vancomycin -induced alterations in kidney oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers in rat.
a,b,cMeans within the same raw carrying different letters are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). VM, vancomycin; DF, daflon; CE, centrum; MDA, malondialdehyde; CAT catalase, and SOD, superoxide dismutase.
3.5 Gene expression
Table 9 presents the mRNA expression levels of the selected candidate genes. Compared to the control group, VM administration significantly upregulated the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, KIM-1, RIP-1, and PARP-1 (p < 0.05). However, co-treatment with DF, CE, or their combination markedly downregulated these genes (p ≤ 0.01) relative to the VM group. Notably, group G5 (VM + DF + CE) exhibited the most favorable outcomes, with gene expression levels closely resembling those of the normal control group.
TABLE 9
| Items | Treatments | P-Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | VM | VM + DF | VM + CE | VM + DF + CE | ||
| IL-1B/B-actin | 1.00 ± 0.00d | 7.62 ± 0.12a | 4.02 ± 0.02b | 4.08 ± 0.04b | 2.38 ± 0.02c | <0.001 |
| TNF-α/B-actin | 1.00 ± 0.00e | 8.56 ± 0.14a | 4.64 ± 0.24b | 4.04 ± 0.24c | 2.03 ± 0.26d | <0.001 |
| KIM-1/B-actin | 1.00 ± 0.00d | 7.50 ± 0.10a | 3.76 ± 0.024b | 3.76 ± 0.024b | 2.46 ± 0.024c | 0.01 |
| RIP-1/B-actin | 1.00 ± 0.00e | 7.70 ± 0.10a | 3.94 ± 0.024b | 3.76 ± 0.24c | 1.86 ± 0.25d | <0.001 |
| PARP-1/B-actin | 1.00 ± 0.00e | 9.28 ± 0.13a | 5.08 ± 0.048b | 4.58 ± 0.05c | 2.26 ± 0.024d | 0.05 |
Effect of DF and/or CE on vancomycin -induced changes in renal gene expression in rats.
a-eMeans within the similar raw carrying unlike letters are significantly different (P ≤ 0.05).
3.6 Protective effects of caflon/Centrum on DNA damage assessed by comet assay
Comet assay results are presented in Figure 1 and Table 10. Compared to the normal control group, VM-treated rats exhibited a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in tail length, tail DNA percentage, and tail moment, indicating a marked increase in DNA damage. Co-treatment with DF, CE, or their combination (G3, G4, and G5) significantly reduced this DNA damage. The extent of DNA damage across groups followed the order: G5 < G4 < G3 < G2. Among them, G5 (VM + DF + CE) showed the most effective DNA repair, closely approaching normal levels.
FIGURE 1
TABLE 10
| Items | Treatments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | VM | VM + DF | VM + CE | VM + DF + CE | P-Value | |
| Tails length µm | 1.12 ± 0.21d | 15.62 ± 1.91a | 8.35 ± 0.55b | 10.29 ± 0.79b | 4.82 ± 0.29c | <0.001 |
| Tail DNA% | 6.06 ± 1.27e | 66.68 ± 4.49a | 28.92 ± 1.74c | 37.45 ± 0.69b | 16.13 ± 1.30d | <0.001 |
| Tail moment | 0.09 ± 0.03c | 5.87 ± 0.62a | 1.28 ± 0.29b | 1.36 ± 0.12b | 0.54 ± 0.14bc | <0.001 |
Effect of DF and/or CE on DNA damage assessed by comet assay in rats exposed to vancomycin.
a-eMeans within the same raw carrying different letters are significantly different (P ≤ 0.05).
3.7 Histopathological assessment of vancomycin-induced kidney damage
Table 11 and Figure 2 illustrate the histopathological findings of kidney tissues. The control group exhibited normal renal architecture, characterized by intact renal capsules, cortex, medulla, glomeruli, tubules, and blood vessels. In contrast, VM administration caused marked pathological changes, such as widened urinary spaces within glomeruli, severe vacuolar degeneration with nuclear pyknosis in tubular epithelial cells, renal cast formation, and congestion of interstitial blood vessels. Co-treatment with DF, CE, or their combination alleviated these microscopic alterations. Notably, the VM + DF + CE group exhibited near-normal renal histology, showing superior tissue recovery compared to DF or CE treatment alone.
TABLE 11
| Items | Treatments | P-Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | VM | VM + DF | VM + CE | VM + DF + CE | ||
| Congestion | _ | *** | * | ** | _ | 0.05 |
| Edema | _ | *** | * | ** | _ | 0.005 |
| Coagulative necrosis | _ | ** | * | * | * | 0.001 |
| Vacuolation | _ | *** | * | ** | _ | 0.05 |
Semi-quantitative scoring of renal changes in control, VM, DE, and CE-treated groups.
FIGURE 2
4 Discussion
Acute kidney injury (AKI) has significantly contributed to increased morbidity and mortality in recent decades. Despite advancements in critical care, patient outcomes remain suboptimal (). Vancomycin is one of the most widely prescribed antibiotics, used in approximately 35% of hospitalized patients with bacterial infections due to its potent bactericidal properties and affordability (). However, vancomycin-associated AKI (VM-AKI) typically manifests between 4 and 17 days after treatment initiation and may persist even after drug discontinuation, particularly in patients with underlying conditions. VM-AKI is associated with increased mortality, hospital readmissions, and prolonged stays (). Thus, this study aimed to mitigate these adverse effects and improve renal health outcomes.
Our findings revealed that VM administration significantly elevated total white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophils, and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio while markedly reducing packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBCs), and lymphocytes. The observed increase in hemoglobin levels in the DF-treated group may be attributed to several potential mechanisms. Daflon, being rich in flavonoids and antioxidant compounds, can reduce oxidative stress and protect red blood cells from vancomycin-induced damage, thereby preserving their lifespan and hemoglobin content. Additionally, DF may improve microcirculation and tissue oxygenation, enhancing erythropoiesis indirectly. By mitigating renal injury and systemic oxidative stress, DF creates a more favorable environment for red blood cell production, which could explain the significant improvement in Hb levels observed in the VM + DF group (). Unusual Drug Interaction: While there are no well-documented interactions between Daflon and Centrum that would cause a decrease in hemoglobin. However, this is not a common or established effect. Daflon is known to interact with some metabolic enzymes, so it's possible it could affect the absorption or metabolism of some components in Centrum, but a significant decrease in hemoglobin is unlikely. Lymphocytes are central humoral and cellular immunity. reported that VM at 120 mg/kg twice daily for 14 days significantly reduced hematological indices in rats, likely due to decreased erythropoietin production resulting from VM-induced AKI (). Our results show that co-administration of Diosmin (DF) and Celvitan (CE) effectively reversed these hematological impairments. DF, rich in flavonoids, promotes erythropoiesis and enhances iron metabolism (), while also exhibiting immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, CE, which contains iron and multivitamins such as vitamins C and E, contributing to hematological improvement ().
Biochemical analyses confirmed that VM caused significant nephrotoxicity, as evidenced by elevated serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels. These biomarkers are reliable indicators of impaired kidney function (). Although total protein, albumin, and globulin levels remained relatively unchanged, hypoalbuminemia—another marker of AKI—has been strongly associated with poor outcomes (). DF significantly reduced serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels, consistent with . CE also exhibited nephroprotective effects, restoring kidney biomarkers to near-normal levels (). These protective effects are largely due to the antioxidant constituents of DF (mainly diosmin and hesperidin) and the vitamins and minerals in CE ().
Oxidative stress was further confirmed by elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and reduced catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in VM-treated rats. Histopathological examination showed vacuolar degeneration, tubular epithelial cell pyknosis, renal cast formation, and interstitial vascular congestion. MDA, a key product of lipid peroxidation, serves as a sensitive marker for oxidative damage in the kidney (). Similar findings by support that VM increases MDA while suppressing renal antioxidants. Mechanistically, VM increases oxidative phosphorylation in renal tubular cells, enhancing oxygen consumption and ATP production, which subsequently generates excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to DNA damage (). Co-administration of DF and CE reversed these oxidative imbalances, enhancing CAT and SOD activities and lowering MDA levels (; ). The multivitamins and minerals in CE—including vitamins A, C, E, selenium, and iron—are powerful antioxidants that scavenge ROS (). Diosmin and hesperidin in DF also exert potent antioxidant and anti-DNA damage effects ().
The VM-induced nephrotoxicity pathway involves oxidative stress and subsequent inflammation, disrupting cellular homeostasis, protein structure, and DNA integrity, and leading to apoptosis, ion imbalance, and lipid peroxidation (). Consistent with , we observed increased MDA and reduced SOD, GSH, and CAT in the kidneys. DF and CE ameliorated this damage, promoting DNA repair and inhibiting oxidative stress (; ).
At the molecular level, RT-PCR revealed that VM upregulated several key genes related to apoptosis, inflammation, and kidney injury: PARP1, RIPK1, IL-1β, TNF-α, and KIM1. RIPK1 is a receptor-interacting protein kinase involved in cell death and kidney injury; its suppression has been shown to improve renal outcomes (). Our data corroborate findings by linking increased RIPK1 expression to nephrotoxicity. PARP1, a nuclear enzyme essential for DNA repair, becomes detrimental when excessively activated, leading to ATP depletion and cell necrosis (). Similarly, KIM1 serves as an early and sensitive biomarker of renal tubular injury (), and its upregulation in our VM group aligns with results from and . Proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α were also elevated, consistent with their role in mediating VM-induced nephrotoxicity (; ; ).
Treatment with DF and CE significantly downregulated these gene expressions. Their nephroprotective actions are likely due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant properties (; ; ). The flavonoids in DF and the essential vitamins and minerals in CE played pivotal roles in mitigating oxidative DNA damage, inflammation, and apoptosis (; ).
Histopathological assessments supported the biochemical and molecular findings. Kidneys from VM-treated rats showed pronounced necrosis, congestion, degeneration, and immune cell infiltration. These outcomes are consistent with previous reports on VM-induced nephrotoxicity () and may stem from the intracellular accumulation of VM within tubular epithelial cells (). Contrary to older hypotheses, recent data suggest that aminoglycoside toxicity is due to cytoplasmic, not lysosomal, accumulation (). DF treatment notably improved renal architecture, showing reduced tubular degeneration and preserved glomerular structure, likely due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions (). Together, DF and CE synergistically reduced VM-induced AKI by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and DNA damage.
The present study was conducted over a moderate experimental period; however, it would have been valuable to investigate the long-term effects of Daflon and Centrum supplementation under vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity to determine the persistence and sustainability of their protective action. Future investigations should incorporate larger cohorts, multiple sampling intervals, molecular endpoints such as caspase-3 and cytokine profiles, and separate supplement-only groups to fully delineate mechanistic and dose-response relationships.
From a clinical perspective, Daflon and Centrum—due to their established safety and accessibility—warrant testing in controlled trials as adjunctive agents for patients undergoing treatment with nephrotoxic drugs, with emphasis on defining optimal dosing regimens and confirming translational relevance.
5 Conclusion
This study demonstrated that VM administration triggered apoptosis and inflammation by upregulating the gene expression of PARP1, RIP1, TNF-α, IL-1β, and KIM1. Additionally, VM-induced oxidative stress in renal tissues led to tubular degeneration and necrosis, accompanied by elevated serum levels of kidney function markers such as uric acid, urea, and creatinine. Oxidative stress markers in the kidney, including increased MDA and decreased SOD and CAT levels, further confirmed renal damage. VM also caused significant cellular DNA damage, as evidenced by the comet assay. However, treatment with DF and CE effectively alleviated VM-induced renal injury by promoting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and DNA repair mechanisms. Notably, the combined administration of DF and CE provided superior protective effects compared to either treatment alone.
Statements
Data availability statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
Ethics statement
The animal study was approved by All experimental protocols were approved by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Egypt, in accordance with institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals (Approval No. VUSC-044-1-20). The study was conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements.
Author contributions
HE-G: Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing, Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Software, Validation, Visualization. SS: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. EE: Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review and editing. HK: Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Validation, Writing – review and editing. HE-B: Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review and editing. TA: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. SS: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review and editing. SH: Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. HOK is supported by the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) Strategic Research Program 2024 grant (proposal number 3702; fund code 12R310) and UAEU Start-Up grant (proposal number 3219; fund code 12FO58).
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Islam El Gohary, researcher of Pathology, Animal Health Research Institute, Egypt, for performing the histopathological analysis and providing expert interpretation of the tissue sections.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Summary
Keywords
Daflon, Centrum, vancomycin, antioxidant, inflammatory cytokine, DNA damage, nephrotoxicity, oxidative stress
Citation
El-Gendy HF, Salamah S, Elhusseiny E, Khalifa HO, El-Banna HA, Attia TA, Selim S and Hanbally SE (2025) Daflon and Centrum mitigate vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats by ameliorating oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, and inflammation. Front. Toxicol. 7:1673083. doi: 10.3389/ftox.2025.1673083
Received
25 July 2025
Accepted
26 August 2025
Published
15 September 2025
Volume
7 - 2025
Edited by
Marcelo Dutra Arbo, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Reviewed by
Alzahraa Elhemiely, Egyptian Drug Authority Pyramids Branch, Egypt
Xuedong Yin, Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
Updates
Copyright
© 2025 El-Gendy, Salamah, Elhusseiny, Khalifa, El-Banna, Attia, Selim and Hanbally.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Hazim O. Khalifa, hazimkhalifa@uaeu.ac.ae
Disclaimer
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