Ameliorative Potential of Resveratrol on Kidney Toxicities Following Adjuvant Treatment with Antiretroviral Drugs in Male Wistar Rats

Prolonged utilization of antiretroviral agents has been explicitly associated with nephrotoxicity, suggesting deterioration in renal function among patients receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). The current investigation aimed to explore the therapeutic efficacy of resveratrol (RV) for the management of renal impairment resulting from antiretroviral drug toxins. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats weighing 70–90 g were divided into four groups and subjected to the following treatments: Control A (distilled water), B (HAART), C (RV-2.5 mg/kg), and D (RV- 2.5 mg/kg) + HAART. The assessment included renal histological examination; renal functional indicators such as serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen; serum electrolyte levels including sodium, chloride, potassium, and bicarbonate; and oxidative stress biomarkers such as malondialdehyde, catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase. The detrimental effects of HAART include adverse histological modifications, such as tubular atrophy, vacuolization, tubular granular degeneration, and abnormalities in glomerular capillaries. Compared to the other treatment cohorts, there were significant increases in the levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), sodium, chloride, and malondialdehyde (MDA), while antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels were notably decreased. The renal structure remained predominantly unchanged following RV administration, exhibiting a degree of recovery in histological abnormalities. Visible improvements, including decreased inflammation, reduced necrosis, diminished vacuolization, and enhanced tubule and glomerular configuration, were also noted. Additionally, RV notably increased antioxidant enzyme levels (SOD, CAT, and GSH) and reduced BUN, serum creatinine, and MDA levels. RV helped mitigate structural abnormalities and kidney dysfunction induced by HAART, while improving kidney morphology. However, further investigation into these mechanisms is necessary.